Thread by @annalisemporter

Another @CUBoulderGWC conference thought, actually. Something that felt different this year was the amount of focus on *emotion.* Words like grief and compassion were used, and I don't remember this emphasis so much in past river events I've attended....1/x

Water is deeply emotional for me and I try to (carefully and consciously) let that be a guiding factor in how I learn, critically think, and respond to the Colorado River and Rio Grande droughts. I think it has served me well, but it's also a little lonely & self-conscious... 2/x

...at times because in my experience - which I recognize is short - I haven't encountered too many other folks who embrace this as a purposeful/public part of their river work. @LauraPaskus and Daryl Vigil are two people I really admire for it... 3/x

But, it seems like there's more of a shift toward this, based on some of the discussions at the conference. I'm pleased to see it because I think it can really help us see problems (and seek solutions) in different ways. 4/x

I like @coleimperi's development of the Shadowloss concept. It's a validation of something you're grieving, that changes your way of thinking/living/path forward, but doesn't involve a physical, literal death. That very much feels like where we are with the #cor. 5/x

I'll maybe develop this thread more later? I've never written about it outside of journaling before. But I think it's worth talking about because I think we're heading that way. 6/6