In Let This Radicalize You, @prisonculture & @MsKellyMHayes shared Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone's definition of "Active Hope":

"Active Hope is a practice. Like tai chi or gardening, it is something we do rather than have... First, we take a clear view of reality; second, we identify what we hope for in terms of the direction we'd like things to move in or the values we'd like to see expressed; and third, we take steps to move ourselves or our situation in that direction...

Just got to the part of Let This Radicalize You where they detail different responses to "major health threats" as outlined in The Psychology of Pandemics by Steven Taylor.

Some ppl are "monitors", who seek out info "to cope with uncertainty." [cont] "Meanwhile, others are prone to what's known as "blunting" behavior, which involves 'the distraction from, and minimizing of threatening information.'"

.@MsKellyMHayes: “I think a lot of ppl are moving through the world wounded, with their guard all the way up, & they are leaning into normalcy bc those moments in the pandemic when they could not deny what was happening & they had to acknowledge that their world was changing… …were unbearable. So the illusion of normalcy is easier for some ppl, even if it has a massive body count, and, even if they are destroying their health…

“We believe in humanity. It is not true that most people are selfish, bad…ignorant, or unwilling to learn. Most people do not know what is going on, or feel powerless to stop it, or both.”

Slowly working my way through this doc but this is incredible:

docs.google.com/document/d/1NV… I also love that the authors reference this Michael Brooks quote in the doc, which is something that has stayed on my mind ever since I first heard it several years ago:

“Be ruthless with systems, be kind to people.”

One of my favorite essays from last year, written by my brilliant friend, @raiawrites. Feels especially important to re-up as the public health emergency is declared over, but the pandemic rages on, & we desperately need a robust Left resistance/response: midnightsunmag.ca/why-has-the-le… "The left’s job is not to accept the narrative of events that corporate media and government officials give us – “the pandemic’s over” – but to craft our own...

Went to pick up coffee this morning, saw that all the workers were wearing masks (mostly surgical). Went back home, came back with a handful of individually wrapped KN95s, and gave them to one of the workers.

There are small but significant ways we can show up for each other.

https://twitter.com/hopppernickle/status/1656438765752033282

Relatedly, I would love tips on how y'all approach people about whether they want some high-quality masks. I'm very new to passing them out myself (cont in next tweet)

I remember reading this essay a long long time ago (wish I remembered the title and author) who talked about how most people's minds do not change overnight.

It's something I think about a lot.

The best you can do is plant seeds. Let that be enough. I certainly don't practice this perfectly, but I try to remember this - that changing our minds about something often takes time.

Share your point of view in a generous & thoughtful way, and divest from a particular outcome.

I get why people feel cynical bc the govt response to COVID has been so awful and we are for sure in an uphill battle.

But there are many groups & orgs working to resist mass infection.

I encourage folks to amplify those groups. And get involved if you’re able. .@mandatemasksus has an incredible growing list of groups in the US & Canada working on COVID safety & Long COVID advocacy.

Look through the list and see if there’s one in your region/state:

https://twitter.com/mandatemasksus/status/1585032079716519938

Things I’m Proud Of, 2022 Edition: I’m proud of myself for standing in my truth & honoring my needs, however imperfectly, even when it’s cost me relationships.