Well, Let's Face It. Here We Are.
Hot air creates havoc on both coasts.
Hey there. You doing ok? I feel like I’ll be asking you that a lot. Here are five days from my week.
January 17
Watched the best movie last night. Dinner in America, from a few years ago. A feel-good indie rom-com-ish film that would appeal to people who liked Napolean Dynamite (💛💛💛) When you need a break from all current events, fire up this movie.
January 19
Watching the spectacle unfold (unravel?) and listening to the extremely hot air blow out of Washington D.C.- it’s fierce and fire-y rhetoric, a very fire-and-brimstone-burn-the-witches tone.
The 🐘s are having a bacchanal. Everyone else is looking for their floatation devices.
I’m trying to stay somehow centered with two stabilizing thoughts:
One organism’s waste product is another organism’s fertilizer. That is nature’s circle of life. This calms me and stirs my creative thinking in the face of definite crisis emerging.
“Living” means living in the world as it IS RIGHT NOW. I am determined to thrive despite unfavorable conditions. Which means lowering the temperature of my rage so I don’t burn out. We all need lots of energy to be creative and proactive in these political Santa Anas.
January 21
It’s proving to be a bit of a challenge to keep the aforementioned stabilizing thoughts front & center in my mind, as a third, more potent thought takes center stage:
WTAF
Battling my bubbling rage with a stern question:
What does a balanced response look like to what’s going on?
Well, a balanced response is going to look completely different for each one of us.
I’m thinking this is really important to wrap our heads around, as many different groups of people are going to be targeted, disenfranchised, harmed, angered, and negatively impacted in ways we are likely not ready for. We also might be caught off-guard by the “other team” actually doing a few things well or that we agree with— and be able to (begrudgingly) acknowledge the wins.
In this time of media wild fires, there will be arrows of righteousness flying every which way, especially at groups of people who are seen as the “haves” or whoever the perceived enemy-of-the-moment is.
I’m already seeing righteous anger seep into fashion- certain influencers are pouncing on the so-called “style of quiet privilege” and “classic style.” In the evolving new era, at least for a revolutionary-minute, one’s taste is going to be judged, along with everything else. And while there is most definitely a very interesting reflection to be had about the origins of fashion, how beauty standards have evolved, how money and race have directed aesthetics over the centuries, I feel like we have to realize that sometimes a sweater is just a sweater. Sometimes a dress or a haircut isn’t an elitist choice, it could just simply be something a person likes. And that’s ok. But I can see the whole finger-pointing separation happening before everyone has been completely exhausted by their anger and realizes we have to come together to combat actual wrongdoing.
Everyone (and not everyone, but you know what I mean) sounds angry, loud and right. Forces have been unleashed, and there we be an equal and opposite reaction. I’m guessing that voices of nuance, of middle-ish opinion, will be drowned out if not outright yelled-over. (If you’re curious, this is what astrology has described coming down the pike - all of the astrological theories about “revolution and change, a new society emerging, are being played out.)
A preemptive plea to any reasonable ears: before we get too far down the cultural-political revolutionary path: we can’t expect or ask each of us to come to the scene with the same brand of resistance, righteousness or attitude. We need a holistic response to grow as a country and culture, to get us out of this mess that we all created equally, in different ways. This means everybody has to use their strengths to create a better world. This means being conscious of not letting our psychologies be preyed upon by those looking to play to our weaker natures. (Again, if anyone cares, astrology does a fantastic job of describing what each person’s strengths and weaknesses are. Once you know your chart, it’s an invaluable manual of how to best proceed during turbulent times.)
In a nutshell, the sense I have today is: we are witnessing the worst “buddy story” ever played out in any of our lifetimes. (DT+EM)
And I’ll just add this: WHO WANTS TO EVER GO TO FUCKING MARS?
On a positive note, my creative life in the garage is proceeding bountifully. It’s a womb of hearts and flowers and happy colors where no current events can touch me.
January 22
Took a long drive and listened to possibly the best conversation I’ve heard in a long time. It’s everything you need to know about dopamine, which means to say, everything you need to know about most “ordinary” human behaviors. LISTEN TO IT. OR WATCH IT. I promise you’ll find it fascinating. Especially if you care about compulsions, addiction, kids, adults, the aging brain, social media, the brain in general, modern society, tech… just listen to it.
January 23
Had a surprising and refreshing blue conversation at a fairly red venue, in a very red state. It’s a relief to encounter diversity in the ecosystem. Signs of evolving life in unexpected places is so encouraging.
Also seriously considering narrowing down my social media to two sources: here (Substack, in case you didn’t know where you were right now) and Bluesky. The whole Zuckerberg thing is too creepy. Would love to know how you all are proceeding into dystopia the future.
I’ll be in the garage painting flowers. Take care of yourself and each other. 💙
Lots of love,
xoAubrey
P.S. 4 things I love, use, and like:
The book/audio book written by Dr. Anna Lembke, Dopamine Nation, who was interviewed in the podcast I mentioned above, Diary of a CEO (amazing show if you don’t already know it.) Here’s the YouTube version and the podcast version.
My go-to immune defense boosters that I take whenever I’ve been exposed to anyone with the sniffles, and when I travel. They have worked for me and my family for decades. (This is not medical advice, just what has worked soooo well for me to not get sick.) Get any good brand of Oregano Oil, but this is the one I usually buy. And then the tried-and-true Wellness Formula, based on the Chinese formula Yin Chiao. It works like a total charm. (I repeat, not medical advice. I just have used it for more than two decades for myself and since our daughter was little.)
Since there is a polar vortex, I have had a warm beverage in my hand but can’t do caffeine all day. This stuff is sooooo good: Dandy Blend. Nutty and a richer experience than most teas. Not bitter. Delicious with milk.
Whenever I go to the grocery store, I get compliments on my grocery bags, which are these folded boxes, like crates. These are very similar and are much better than bags.