Hi folks! I thought I'd do a quick thread on mutual aid, its origins, how it differs from charity, and how it is used on Twitter. I'm by no means an expert in this field, but it's something I've been learning about both in theory and practice, and I think it's really cool! You may have seen fundraisers shared as "mutual aid opportunities." Or maybe you've seen #SettlerSaturday where folks share the needs of Indigenous families or individuals. Or maybe you give to @togetherrising or have received help from them. These are all forms of mutual aid.

🧵You know how I'm always like, "Please, no unsolicited advice"? Here's a time I would like advice. I have a physical therapy appointment next week and I've been having small panic attacks about it for two weeks now, for this reason: He asked me last time about my work and how I sit for it, and gave me a disapproving look at my answer and told me we'd talk about ergonomics next time. (Note, I've had this physical therapist before and had the exact same conversation, which is why this is so triggering to me.)

Well at least I had a six-day stretch without a migraine, but I wish this one hadn’t come on a day I have to drive three hours in Boston-rush-hour traffic. In other news, @d_l_mayfield’s newsletter about autism continues to rock my world and tell my story in ways I never could before. I want to send these paragraphs to everyone I’ve ever worked with and for.

Listen, if my, “You are not alone, and this will not last forever” tweet bothers you, just mute me. I am doing my best to survive, just like you. It doesn’t do anyone any good to tell me that I’m lying. Take that energy to your therapist, that’s what she’s trained for—I’m not. I don’t mind if people tell me they’re having a hard time believing it—that’s fine, me too! If it was easy to believe I wouldn’t post it every day. And I totally get if the words aren’t helpful to you. No offense taken if you have to mute me, or add that phrase to your mute list.

If anyone is alone today and feeling lonely, you are invited to my Thanksgiving dinner. I made lemon rosemary turkey. Tell me your hair and eye color and what you’re bringing, and I’ll draw you in. I won’t be able to draw everyone, but everybody’s in: If you’re not in the picture you’re just off-screen mingling in the kitchen, or in the basement hunting for that extra card table, or helping me to pile coats on my bed. But we’re all here, together.

Thread: I think I am going to do another Thanksgiving stick-figure gathering on Thursday, but to be honest, I'm kind of sad because I know I won't be able to include everyone and people will be sad that they're left out. I'm a slow drawer, and it takes time and energy to write down everyone's details and their handle, draw them and the food they're bringing, take a picture of my updated drawing, and tweet it with the correct handle(s) and a personal comment.

Peace to everyone in the first shock of grief tonight. Peace to everyone waking up this morning sad and bewildered.

There's supposed to be a cold front coming in, so I'm just staring at the temperature and it's like 95! 96! 97! ooooooo 96! jkjkjk 97. oooorrrrrr 96! haha, got you again 97. I can't do anything except sit here and sweat. If I owe you work, I apologize.

If anyone is missing their usual gatherings this year and feeling lonely, you are invited to my holiday dinner. I made orange-glazed ham and my grandmother’s pierogis. Tell me your hair color & length, & what you’re bringing, & I’ll draw you in! .@crvanderpool and @denisehotze are the first to arrive! Throw your coats in the bedroom and pull up a chair. Denise brought her traditional pot of chili, yum! 🌶

If anyone is alone today and feeling lonely, you are invited to my Thanksgiving dinner. I made lemon & rosemary turkey. Tell me your hair & eye color & what you’re bringing, & I’ll draw you in. Sorry I’m a slow drawer, but I’m so glad so many of you can come! @simplyjennifer and Ken have already sat down.

Okay, here’s a funny story. When I was making the index for this new book, I wrote down hope as one of the categories. But after I had gone through almost all the benedictions I realized I had only categorized one as hope. (1/4) That seemed like an oversight to me, so I started looking at them again. And I realized it wasn’t that none of them were about hope, but more that all of them were about hope, but not in a direct, imperative way. None of them say, “Be hopeful!“ (2/4)

Peace to the anxious. Peace to the scared.

What if the word racist wasn’t the bad thing?
What if it was an awakening?
A realization & a choice like

Alcoholic. Oh, we’d say. Oh, shit.
But then we could go to a meeting
& be real for once.

Hi, I’m ___, we would say
& they’d reply, Hi, ____.
How can we help you get sober? What if we admitted that we were powerless
without help, That, as James Baldwin said,
white people are trapped in a history which we

do not understand & until we understand, we cannot
be released. What if the word racist is not the end
of freedom, but the beginning?