SEASON WITH TENSION...
It's more than a food pun, it's the truth of the holidays when so much of the work that it takes to get through daily life falls on those whose labor is unseen, under-valued, and/or unappreciated.
As with so many things, the Covid pandemic has made what was true before even more exhausting and filled with the tension of what the world demands from human beings with human limits.
Over the Thanksgiving holiday, it occurred to us that being together with people you love is the most meaningful aspect of an otherwise whitewashed experience of historic genocide. Yes, there is an emphasis on gratitude, and that's a form of meditation, mindfulness, or prayer that is always beneficial. Yet the idea of emphasizing gratitude on only one day, when so many people are strung out from the demands of relentless capitalism and toxic positivity feels...well, perhaps at best we can laugh some of the tension off?
But as we pick up the pieces and move on toward the winter solstice and the turn of the year, we can't help but think about what worthwhile practice is at the root of this time of year, as well. And where the demands on our energy actually need to be quieted in favor of restoring or redirecting toward the things we truly value.
Is it togetherness? Is it joy? Is it doing what you can to uplift those who are struggling, at this and many other times of year? And if it's the latter, how can your seasonal energy be put to service throughout all of 2023? How can you care for yourself better? Care for others better? What will your antiracism learning look like? Where will you spend your money? How will you practice turning inward, slowing down, and centering on your values?
These are the questions we carry with us through the season, and we hope you'll take some time to think about them with us. And, as always, we are not alone: we'll have some help in the form of some wonderful guest contributors in the coming weeks and throughout 2023.
To a season of change,
Tay + Dor
photo by Christine Han
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