Kim, it really has to be savored. I started a book club w/ my pastor & we are reading it in thirds so we have 3 months to take it all in & discuss it together w/out being rushed. Awesome book!
I've never heard of the Sharon Blackie book, but I will look into it. It sounds very interesting. And thank you for the comment on the community here. I'm very grateful for feedback right now as I consider the next move.
Did my steps here with Notes from a Neighbor this last year help us hold on to our understanding of being human? Did what I had to say about community and caring for each other contribute to shifting the conversation away from such a narrow self-focused concept of well-being?
I answer with an enthusiastic YES to both these questions. I am so grateful for you and what you are doing here. The theme of community care keeps cropping up in different corners of my world, and it's so exciting to sense a larger shift taking place. I've shared Notes from a Neighbor with many people, several of whom I'm in now conversation with about how to create a more community care in our immediate circles.
I am currently listening to voices who are urging white settlers (particularly Christians) to engage in decolonization. I just finished Healing Haunted Histories: A Settler Discipleship of Decolonization by Ched Myers and Elaine Enns, and I've started The Land Is Not Empty: Following Jesus in Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery. I'm also listening to a podcast titled "Mapping the Doctrine of Discovery."
I hope you have a wonderful fall break. I look forward to your next Note!
Noelle, thanks so much for sharing all this & for the encouragement. I love, love, love that sharing the notes here has sparked a conversation about community care within your immediate circle. THAT is a huge payoff to my heart & I hope a positive experience for you & your friends.
Also, thank you for the book titles & podcast suggestions. I'm adding them to my list.
Beautiful essay and reflections, Angie. This moved me: "It reminded me of whale bones sometimes discovered on beaches. Maybe the cottonwood is the whale of the river, its spirit mixed into the water and air now." Killers of the Flower Moon has been on my TBR list for over a year; seems like it may be time to finally start it. Enjoy your break!
Dave spotted that cottonwood & wanted to take pics. It was a really cool exploration. The body was hollowed out & full of river rock that had obviously been deposited over years of drifting & flooding. It felt sacred (is that too heavy a word?), the way I think it must feel like if you discover whale bones.
Killers of the Flower Moon was great, but fair warning, Friend . . . it will also enrage you & make you so sad. Why do you & I always recommend this kind of stuff to each other?? lol.
Staying human... yes. That really hit me today! Realizing that's exactly what I want to be doing with my time/work/life/stories. In fact, I've even used similar language before but I'm thinking of it with new resonance after this letter. Enjoy your fall break, Angie.
Grace, I like that you said it's what you "want to be doing with your time/work/life/stories." I actually think in our particular moment staying human IS a "doing" thing. It's active. It's a choice. It requires a lot of forethought & effort. When I think of John Trudell's quote, especially as AI takes off & basically steals our stories, the stories part that you mentioned in your staying human work is particularly important.
As always, much to think about. I had never heard that quote before, about the world forgetting how to be human, but it really resonated with me. I'll be thinking about that quite a bit. Rest up, and we'll look forward to what you have to share on the flip side!
Melanie, glad it got you thinking. I had quite a few folks reach out privately to say the same. It's one of those "Whoa. Hit me in my center." sorts of quotes.
I am deeply grateful for the ways you continually call us to think / question beyond the narrow confines wellness culture!! There is so much about it that’s connected to toxic capitalism and colonialism.
I see unlearning and re-learning as an act of radical + collective liberation. And your work and words definitely help me along this journey. Thanks so much for sharing what you’re reading. I am adding these to my ever- growing list! Lol.
I am learning more about my own Afro-indigenous heritage... coming up on the anniversary of Dad’s passing and it feels like an even deeper desire to expand my understanding. There is such wisdom which has gone before us. ♥️
Kim, it really has to be savored. I started a book club w/ my pastor & we are reading it in thirds so we have 3 months to take it all in & discuss it together w/out being rushed. Awesome book!
I've never heard of the Sharon Blackie book, but I will look into it. It sounds very interesting. And thank you for the comment on the community here. I'm very grateful for feedback right now as I consider the next move.
You ask:
Did my steps here with Notes from a Neighbor this last year help us hold on to our understanding of being human? Did what I had to say about community and caring for each other contribute to shifting the conversation away from such a narrow self-focused concept of well-being?
I answer with an enthusiastic YES to both these questions. I am so grateful for you and what you are doing here. The theme of community care keeps cropping up in different corners of my world, and it's so exciting to sense a larger shift taking place. I've shared Notes from a Neighbor with many people, several of whom I'm in now conversation with about how to create a more community care in our immediate circles.
I am currently listening to voices who are urging white settlers (particularly Christians) to engage in decolonization. I just finished Healing Haunted Histories: A Settler Discipleship of Decolonization by Ched Myers and Elaine Enns, and I've started The Land Is Not Empty: Following Jesus in Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery. I'm also listening to a podcast titled "Mapping the Doctrine of Discovery."
I hope you have a wonderful fall break. I look forward to your next Note!
In gratitude,
Noelle
Noelle, thanks so much for sharing all this & for the encouragement. I love, love, love that sharing the notes here has sparked a conversation about community care within your immediate circle. THAT is a huge payoff to my heart & I hope a positive experience for you & your friends.
Also, thank you for the book titles & podcast suggestions. I'm adding them to my list.
Beautiful essay and reflections, Angie. This moved me: "It reminded me of whale bones sometimes discovered on beaches. Maybe the cottonwood is the whale of the river, its spirit mixed into the water and air now." Killers of the Flower Moon has been on my TBR list for over a year; seems like it may be time to finally start it. Enjoy your break!
Dave spotted that cottonwood & wanted to take pics. It was a really cool exploration. The body was hollowed out & full of river rock that had obviously been deposited over years of drifting & flooding. It felt sacred (is that too heavy a word?), the way I think it must feel like if you discover whale bones.
Killers of the Flower Moon was great, but fair warning, Friend . . . it will also enrage you & make you so sad. Why do you & I always recommend this kind of stuff to each other?? lol.
Staying human... yes. That really hit me today! Realizing that's exactly what I want to be doing with my time/work/life/stories. In fact, I've even used similar language before but I'm thinking of it with new resonance after this letter. Enjoy your fall break, Angie.
Grace, I like that you said it's what you "want to be doing with your time/work/life/stories." I actually think in our particular moment staying human IS a "doing" thing. It's active. It's a choice. It requires a lot of forethought & effort. When I think of John Trudell's quote, especially as AI takes off & basically steals our stories, the stories part that you mentioned in your staying human work is particularly important.
As always, much to think about. I had never heard that quote before, about the world forgetting how to be human, but it really resonated with me. I'll be thinking about that quite a bit. Rest up, and we'll look forward to what you have to share on the flip side!
Melanie, glad it got you thinking. I had quite a few folks reach out privately to say the same. It's one of those "Whoa. Hit me in my center." sorts of quotes.
I am deeply grateful for the ways you continually call us to think / question beyond the narrow confines wellness culture!! There is so much about it that’s connected to toxic capitalism and colonialism.
I see unlearning and re-learning as an act of radical + collective liberation. And your work and words definitely help me along this journey. Thanks so much for sharing what you’re reading. I am adding these to my ever- growing list! Lol.
I am learning more about my own Afro-indigenous heritage... coming up on the anniversary of Dad’s passing and it feels like an even deeper desire to expand my understanding. There is such wisdom which has gone before us. ♥️
So curious about what you are learning about your Afro-indigenous heritage! I think it is healing for the past & the future for us to do this work. <3