“In one hand, hold the unflinching truth of violence and harm, both historical and in the present moment…
In the other hand, hold the absolute truth that transformation is possible. Hold and feel what is beautiful about life, what is glorious, surprising, ancient, and new about the depth of connection that is possible.”~ Susan Raffo (excerpt from Liberated to the Bone)
At AmazeWorks, we’ve been trying to reconcile the tension between our daily delights and persistent uncertainties.
How do we embrace conflicting emotions, bringing them into relationship instead of assigning them judgment? Excitement can hold hands with despair. Hope can waltz with rage. Gratitude can travel with exhaustion.
The world has thrown a lot at us the past few weeks, months, and years. This combined November/December newsletter offers a collection of resources to help you navigate the complexity of these times with compassion and intention.
So we invite you to pause, take a deep breath (+ however many more your body needs), and count to ten. Create small moments of rest and regulation where you can. Hold all the paradoxical feelings in your arms—they all belong.
The winter holidays are upon us, and while this season is characterized by joy and giving, I would like to acknowledge the challenges of these holidays for so many people for so many different reasons. Society would have us believe they are all about family and friends coming together in joy, love, and celebration. While this is true for some, for many of us, winter holidays (including Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, the New Year, and more) can be stressful, overwhelming, and triggering of past traumas, grief, and loss.
Yet, we still persist with a societal narrative that if we just love, forgive, or believe enough, then our lives will be better and our problems will be solved. So here are three things we can do to mitigate the stress and unrealistic expectations of this holiday season:
As the year comes to an end, we experience fewer hours of daylight and colder temperatures. It’s as if the sky turns off the lights, enforcing an earlier bedtime and compelling us to wrap ourselves in a blanket. The winter practically begs us to rest.
Nature listens. Bears go into hibernation. Squirrels spend more time in the trees, eating nuts they hid during the fall season. Deciduous trees drop their leaves to expend less energy.
But humans? Most of us stick to the same schedule, expecting the same energy levels from ourselves and each other as any other time of the year. We hold ourselves to the standards dictated by white supremacy culture that value work and productivity over rest and wellbeing. We don’t hibernate or drop our leaves. We don’t adjust our daily schedules with the rhythm of the seasons. We simply keep going.
Brave conversations are key to fostering equity and belonging. Watch the video for more tips and share your thoughts—how do you approach these moments?
The holidays are the perfect time to expand the libraries of the little ones in your life. Click here to check out AmazeWorks Book Sets to guide intentional conversations about identity, difference, and bias.
Book set topics include:
Thank you for your fierce hope!
Thanks to supporters like you, AmazeWorks met our fundraising goal for Give to the Max—together, we raised $15,640 in fierce hope of belonging for all! Your support fuels our mission to create a world where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. We couldn’t be more grateful for this AMAZE-ing community.
Didn’t get a chance to give? It’s not too late to act on fierce hope with a donation. Click here to donate today.