A lot has happened in the world since my last post. Political forces feel out of our control; and as they impact our day to day lives through gas and grocery prices, it is natural to feel even more helpless in the face of such dynamics. It is a tough pill to swallow that we can't change the entire world, but I think it is important to recognize that we can change our own. As a political actor, you have immense power over the political reality of your internal world (how you manage resources like time, attention, and emotion), and the dynamics within your family and community. If we are all parts of a whole, you have the power to ensure that your part is something to lean on, lead, and be proud of. Allow yourself to feel whatever it is that comes up in the face of national and international politics, consider its impact on your life, and take reaponsibility for how you respond to it internally, in your home, and in your community.

The other day, my family sat down to watch the movie Wall-E: where the dingy little trash robot roams the wasteland created and abandoned by humankind making his signature trash cubes in perpetuity alongside his beloved cockroach friend. As he parses through the graveyard that is our planet, Wall-E collects trinkets he finds interesting or beautiful. One of these rarities is a plant, the last (or first) sign of life on the desolate planet earth. Your heart goes out to the poor robot, because he has so unceremoniously been thrown in to the depths of the human condition. At least, the image of the human condition I conjure when considering Nietzche and nihilism. There are several variations to the definition of nihilism, but they all revolve around the notion that objective reality and meaning do not exist. There was an article published by the guardian (linked in this post) that argues for the embrace of nihilism. I disagree with embracing nihilism as a philosophy to live by, but i certainly find value in her discussion of what it is and how it can influence our lives. According to the author "nihilism doesn’t function as a bullshit shortcut to eschewing responsibility, or a ticket to hedonistic self-indulgence. Nihilism functions first as a diagnosis, then a reckoning, then a prompt." The world is meaningless, MY world exists within that meaninglessness, so what? So what? What do I do? What do I think? HOW CAN I GO ON?! The article offers an anecdote about Dolly Parton refusing to wallow in self pity for her situation. While its a good example of creating in the face of despair, I'm not sure we can attribute it to nihilism per se. I think at a more fundamental level, the first thing you can do in the midst of "reckoning" is recognize what you're feeling: it might be panic, anxiety, and that's a great place to start. Ask yourself where the anxiety is coming from. What is it that you fear at the prospect of high level meaninglessness? What defensive responses do you have to the idea?

The idea of letting go of what you cannot control is a central concept in basically every philosophy for happiness and fulfillment from the Stoics to the 7 step program to Buddhists, they all contain the element of relinquishing the illusion of control: "God grant me serenity to accept the things I cannot change" - Serenity Prayer "You have control over your mind - not outside events" Marcus Aurelius (Stoicism) "The world belongs to those who let go" Lao Tzu But what they also contain is some relationship to courage and strength. When we take these lessons together, one can recognize that letting go both takes courage and leads to courage: "... The courage to change the things I can" -serenity prayer "...Realize this and you will find strength" Marcus Aurelius (Stoicism) "A man with outward courage dares to die; a man with inner courage dares to live" - Lao Tzu When people say "don't worry about what you can't control" its often frustrating, because that advice fails to recognize how truly difficult of a thing that is. So if you're trying, give yourself credit and keep digging for the will to let go

As spring approaches its important to remember: you cannot have Butterflies if you don't tolerate caterpillars. This quote was from a gardener reminding people that the butterflies they so desperately want will not be in their garden if they kill off the caterpillar "pests" eating some of their leaves. A poet commented that the very practical warning should also be digested as poetry in our lives, and I must agree. We all want to flourish, and we picture the end result. But morphing in to a butterfly requires us to scrounge around as caterpillars: to find what feeds us, and to allow ourselves the space and grace to dissolve and reform. Transformation comes at a cost, at the end of a process, so be patient while you let yourself grow

"Our burdens are here, our road is before us, and our longing for goodness and happiness is the guide that leads us through many troubles and mistakes" Louisa May Alcott, Little Women, pg.10 So often we get caught up in where we have been, where we want to go, and who we want to be, that we forget what, who, and where we ARE! Take some time to appreciate the blessings and burdens you have right now, and take solace in knowing your intention to move forward is not only key to your growth, but here with you right now. Nurture it, nurture you 💕