I practice loving kindness and express appreciation to the people I meet when I'm out in the world. I use some of my screen time to watch comedy and spiritually uplifting videos. I laugh with friends and hug them often. I practice t'ai ji with a group by the lakefront 3 times a week. I use my practice as a form of body prayer asking for safety and good health for people living in war-torn places and in areas being devastated by natural disasters and climate change.
I allow my fierce, fragile human heart to alchemize through my fingertips and somehow swim softly into another human’s eyes, whispering, whimpering, singing, streaming through these magic bundles we call words.
I allow my reflection a moment of “You sexy thang!” and blow a kiss in the bathroom mirror.
I ask my moving-out-in a-few-months son for extra hugs for the Hug Bank.
I kiss the strawberry before my happy animal mouth floods it with saliva, annointing it with astonished pleasure all the way down to my grateful soft belly.
🍓
“What would a good animal do?” Thank you! This is a treasure box question. 🙏💋❤️ Sage
Thank you, dearheart. I have been writing crazy amounts of poetry for 4 years and am (finally! at age 60!) about to give birth to my first poetry book baby. Hooray! It’s not too late, right? Right!
I love your books & we’ve been FB friends for a long time, so it’s lovely to find you and your wise & wonderful writerly potty mouth here now. I’m new here & loving it. 😍
Thank you. I can’t believe how desperately I needed to read/hear all this (and all the comments). I have been more uneasy and anxious than I have EVER been; it’s so hard to get a good night’s sleep. I isolate too, but reading this has encouraged me to reach out and connect with—to make the effort to be human. Thank you so much. ❤️
It’s such a fragile thing, being human. Not only keeping our humanity, but living with the grief that accompanies every breath for those of us who are awake humans. We are awash with all that is broken right now. The things that I’m clinging to with my goddamn white knuckled fingers: deck time with friends, moving my body, nature, writing, reading.
Jennifer...I loved and needed this. I'm up at 4:18 am (after having gotten up at 1:00 am, gone back to bed, and gotten back up again). I am breathing a sigh of relief just reading these ideas. Liking and restacking.
I love your emphasis on gathering with other humans and laughing as much as possible. It sounds so simple, but it's incredibly powerful. In a world that often feels heavy and isolating, laughter is like a lifeline. I've started making a conscious effort to seek out those moments of joy and connection, even if it's just a quick coffee with a friend or a silly joke with a stranger. It's amazing how much a good laugh can shift your perspective and lighten the load. And you're right, the urge to isolate is strong, especially when things feel overwhelming. But pushing through that and reaching out to others is so crucial. It's a reminder that we're not alone in this, that we have each other. It's a simple but profound truth.
The day after my 72nd birthday, I started painting. The reasons why is ironic. Trauma and macular degeneration had knocked me out of being a shamanic practitioner and a writer. I felt like my soul was starving. I had the gut feeling that if I didn't start creating again, I would wither and I felt nothing. My husband has been a painter for 55 years, and so it was expedient to ask him for some panels, paints and other accouterments. I have never been a visual person; I didn't even like crayons as a kid. But that day changed me. I discovered a real love for the process. A completely different language. My husband did not advise, teach or otherwise instruct me, urging me to play. We just had an art show, and I sold five paintings. And another one yesterday because of how I am holding this work. All the paintings are 12" x 12", acrylics. Every painting I do is priced at $100. That price is intentionally low because the best way I can resist is by creating beauty. I was very active politically in the 60s and 70s. It stings to not have the health to march now. Painting is absolute therapy for me, and no one could be more surprised than me. I promised myself I was NOT going to let the monsters steal my mental health this time. Painting is how I can spread love and hope around. The point of this is to move on (the name of my first show). So my way was to turn to something creative, something I I NEVER thought I'd do, and try it. I've been painting for 19 months, and it is keeping me mostly sane and open hearted. I think, hope my sight last for another year. It really is odd. I started losing my sight and began to paint. I have never been especially logical. <3
The image shows a mural by the French artist JR, likely part of his "Wrinkles of the City" or "Face 2 Face" projects. Helpful information includes:
Artist:
JR, a street artist known for large-scale photo installations in public spaces.
Projects:
This work resembles JR's "Wrinkles of the City," which features portraits of elderly people pasted on urban facades, or "Face 2 Face," which displayed portraits of Israelis and Palestinians.
I love this!! Just shared on Bluesky and sent link to a bunch of friends. This helps soothe my heart at a time when it’s shattering from all the cruelty and injustice. Thanks, Jen, for always speaking from your heart. Your passion is a salve to others.
For years, I have thought about the idea of what it means to be human each time I heard the name of the house band on the Stephen Colbert show: Stay Human. Being a lover of fantasy and science fiction, I could take that in a lot of different directions. 😆 But in these very frightening times it carries a much different weight. Thanks for sharing your tips, which I think are excellent. I’m working on a piece for tomorrow about my experience attending a fan convention for the show, “Supernatural.” It was only my second convention experience, but it encapsulate so much of what you’ve talked about here. Truly magical. Loved every minute, and am struggling to come back to the real world.
Thanks for this! It's an ongoing struggle and ongoing practice these days to try to pull myself in to what matters, to what and who's here, to what I can affect within my circle of influence. Last week I found myself reflecting on where I would find delight that day and I thought... that's such a better and more interesting question than "what will I DO today?" so I'm trying to remember that as a focus within the chaos of everything. Being with people I love, laughing, dancing, and resting this being that is so very tired... these are some ways I am trying to preserve my humanity.
I practice loving kindness and express appreciation to the people I meet when I'm out in the world. I use some of my screen time to watch comedy and spiritually uplifting videos. I laugh with friends and hug them often. I practice t'ai ji with a group by the lakefront 3 times a week. I use my practice as a form of body prayer asking for safety and good health for people living in war-torn places and in areas being devastated by natural disasters and climate change.
And, yes, I'm exhausted.
that's so beautiful Helen, it fills me up to read that thank you.
I allow my fierce, fragile human heart to alchemize through my fingertips and somehow swim softly into another human’s eyes, whispering, whimpering, singing, streaming through these magic bundles we call words.
I allow my reflection a moment of “You sexy thang!” and blow a kiss in the bathroom mirror.
I ask my moving-out-in a-few-months son for extra hugs for the Hug Bank.
I kiss the strawberry before my happy animal mouth floods it with saliva, annointing it with astonished pleasure all the way down to my grateful soft belly.
🍓
“What would a good animal do?” Thank you! This is a treasure box question. 🙏💋❤️ Sage
P.S. Restacking. Smiling.
Sage that's so so good!!! Thank you!
Thank you, dearheart. I have been writing crazy amounts of poetry for 4 years and am (finally! at age 60!) about to give birth to my first poetry book baby. Hooray! It’s not too late, right? Right!
I love your books & we’ve been FB friends for a long time, so it’s lovely to find you and your wise & wonderful writerly potty mouth here now. I’m new here & loving it. 😍
congrats!!!!!
❤️
Thank you. I can’t believe how desperately I needed to read/hear all this (and all the comments). I have been more uneasy and anxious than I have EVER been; it’s so hard to get a good night’s sleep. I isolate too, but reading this has encouraged me to reach out and connect with—to make the effort to be human. Thank you so much. ❤️
Pimmy me too! We must work for our humanity these days but the payoffs are awesome!
It’s such a fragile thing, being human. Not only keeping our humanity, but living with the grief that accompanies every breath for those of us who are awake humans. We are awash with all that is broken right now. The things that I’m clinging to with my goddamn white knuckled fingers: deck time with friends, moving my body, nature, writing, reading.
I didn't have the energy to write about the grief. but yes, 10000%. The novel I'm is in some ways about that grief. Cling hard my friend I need you!
I’m clinging!
so well-said, Lucy! So well-said.
Jennifer...I loved and needed this. I'm up at 4:18 am (after having gotten up at 1:00 am, gone back to bed, and gotten back up again). I am breathing a sigh of relief just reading these ideas. Liking and restacking.
thanks Linda!! I'm glad it helped!!
I love your emphasis on gathering with other humans and laughing as much as possible. It sounds so simple, but it's incredibly powerful. In a world that often feels heavy and isolating, laughter is like a lifeline. I've started making a conscious effort to seek out those moments of joy and connection, even if it's just a quick coffee with a friend or a silly joke with a stranger. It's amazing how much a good laugh can shift your perspective and lighten the load. And you're right, the urge to isolate is strong, especially when things feel overwhelming. But pushing through that and reaching out to others is so crucial. It's a reminder that we're not alone in this, that we have each other. It's a simple but profound truth.
Thanks Alexander! We went to Moab this past weekend for a trail race with a bunch of friends and we laughed so much. It helped!
Hooray for you and your potty mouthed optimism! 🩷🙌
The day after my 72nd birthday, I started painting. The reasons why is ironic. Trauma and macular degeneration had knocked me out of being a shamanic practitioner and a writer. I felt like my soul was starving. I had the gut feeling that if I didn't start creating again, I would wither and I felt nothing. My husband has been a painter for 55 years, and so it was expedient to ask him for some panels, paints and other accouterments. I have never been a visual person; I didn't even like crayons as a kid. But that day changed me. I discovered a real love for the process. A completely different language. My husband did not advise, teach or otherwise instruct me, urging me to play. We just had an art show, and I sold five paintings. And another one yesterday because of how I am holding this work. All the paintings are 12" x 12", acrylics. Every painting I do is priced at $100. That price is intentionally low because the best way I can resist is by creating beauty. I was very active politically in the 60s and 70s. It stings to not have the health to march now. Painting is absolute therapy for me, and no one could be more surprised than me. I promised myself I was NOT going to let the monsters steal my mental health this time. Painting is how I can spread love and hope around. The point of this is to move on (the name of my first show). So my way was to turn to something creative, something I I NEVER thought I'd do, and try it. I've been painting for 19 months, and it is keeping me mostly sane and open hearted. I think, hope my sight last for another year. It really is odd. I started losing my sight and began to paint. I have never been especially logical. <3
Lora that is so so incredibly good!!!! Do not let the monsters steal your mental health!
Image search credit:
AI Overview
+7
The image shows a mural by the French artist JR, likely part of his "Wrinkles of the City" or "Face 2 Face" projects. Helpful information includes:
Artist:
JR, a street artist known for large-scale photo installations in public spaces.
Projects:
This work resembles JR's "Wrinkles of the City," which features portraits of elderly people pasted on urban facades, or "Face 2 Face," which displayed portraits of Israelis and Palestinians.
Location:
The mural is located in Chelsea, New York City
thanks for doing that! Interesting because I know I took the picture but where was I?
The Highline in NYC?
yes!!!! oh my god! that was a long time ago but that’s it, thank you!
I love this!! Just shared on Bluesky and sent link to a bunch of friends. This helps soothe my heart at a time when it’s shattering from all the cruelty and injustice. Thanks, Jen, for always speaking from your heart. Your passion is a salve to others.
oh sweet friend thank you! You are always keeping us all human!!!
For years, I have thought about the idea of what it means to be human each time I heard the name of the house band on the Stephen Colbert show: Stay Human. Being a lover of fantasy and science fiction, I could take that in a lot of different directions. 😆 But in these very frightening times it carries a much different weight. Thanks for sharing your tips, which I think are excellent. I’m working on a piece for tomorrow about my experience attending a fan convention for the show, “Supernatural.” It was only my second convention experience, but it encapsulate so much of what you’ve talked about here. Truly magical. Loved every minute, and am struggling to come back to the real world.
Thanks for this! It's an ongoing struggle and ongoing practice these days to try to pull myself in to what matters, to what and who's here, to what I can affect within my circle of influence. Last week I found myself reflecting on where I would find delight that day and I thought... that's such a better and more interesting question than "what will I DO today?" so I'm trying to remember that as a focus within the chaos of everything. Being with people I love, laughing, dancing, and resting this being that is so very tired... these are some ways I am trying to preserve my humanity.
Hi Jennifer—thank you for your beautiful writing and these important reminders to hold on to our humanity for dear life. ❤️
thanks for reading!!
Thank you for this, Jennifer. This animal/human needed a reminder. And it begins with "Breathe..."
yes!!!!
Yes and yes and yes. Thank you for this!!!
Love you and your heart ❤️
❤️❤️❤️