You’re so welcome, Diane. I think my cats have been hovering around me a lot the last few days. I think, even though people don’t believe this about cats, that they know I need them a lot right now. Of course, they also occasionally bite my nose or run away when I give them too much love. But who can blame them?
Robyn—good list. I appreciate that you included the disabled in your mention of those of us who are particularly vulnerable. There are many aspects of this that concern me from the disability rights perspective.
From a personal standpoint, I am pissed that this is happening at the beginning of my retirement. Really? 🌹
Thanks, Karen. Your newsletter is one of my primary sources of joy. Both the images and being “together” with other people who just love nature and birds.
Thank you for this Robyn. I also woke up this morning asking myself what is wrong with people. What are they thinking? I just don’t understand, but I must accept and move on. I am saving your list, and will remain vigilant. Hoping to be rid of the sadness and disappointment I feel right now, and to find joy in the simple things.
Thanks, Denise. I’m hoping the tight knot of anxiety in my stomach will fade with time. I only have one precious life and I’m trying to let them steal as few moments from that life as possible.
Robyn, once again, you find a way to offer not only food for hope but help. Thank you. I'm being very careful about incoming voices right now but yours is always one I want to hear. I'm still processing as we all are but there is great comfort in the continuity of daily tasks - dogs to be fed, writing to be done, friends to connect with. Also: silence. I have not used my phone for anything but communication with loved ones. This feeling of space is healing.
You're so welcome, Betsy. Glad this was food for hope and help.
You are so right about silence and being careful about which voices we allow inside our heads. It's so easy in our anxiety to turn to our phones, which are shouting fear and anger and a thousand other emotions, all at once, all the time. Just one click and I find myself spiraling out of control. So thank you for reminding me that silence is perfectly okay and perhaps life-saving in these circumstances.
It was bitter and toxic. I hate the way it made me feel. Trying to find that fine line between taking action and not being constantly consumed by rage, which I just don’t think my body can survive.
Robyn: thanks!
Thank you! I am too destroyed to come up with many words--just gratitude for this list, which is pretty close to my own.
Mine also includes "It's ok to get midafternoon gelato today--three scoops! And also maybe not having to cook tonight."
Oh, dear god, all the fucking gelato in the world! All the comfort food! Gelato for dinner tonight! Maybe every night for the next 4 years.
Of course, another item on my personal list is that I am NOT going to let all of this reverse the good work I’ve done on my A1C!
Hmmm—maybe I will spend part of tonight’s No Time to Write Club sprint actually writing out my list….
There is that! Maybe gelato once a week.
Yes, I think I’ll be putting my list on the wall just as a reminder in the dark moments.
Great ideas! :-)
I’m still so sad and nauseated. It’ll take a while before I stop asking WHY? My God, WHY?
I know. I have no idea why. Just...nothing.
Great List, Thanks.
You’re welcome, Louisa.
Love this so much! Thank you. I will print this and use it as a bookmark.
You’re so welcome, Ed. Adding to it in my head every day. I like the idea that the list will evolve and change over time and that’s okay, too.
Love this! Thank you. Especially the part about sticking your face in your cat soft belly. That’s definitely a go to for me as well!
You’re so welcome, Diane. I think my cats have been hovering around me a lot the last few days. I think, even though people don’t believe this about cats, that they know I need them a lot right now. Of course, they also occasionally bite my nose or run away when I give them too much love. But who can blame them?
Robyn—good list. I appreciate that you included the disabled in your mention of those of us who are particularly vulnerable. There are many aspects of this that concern me from the disability rights perspective.
From a personal standpoint, I am pissed that this is happening at the beginning of my retirement. Really? 🌹
Yeah, it’s happening at the beginning of my sabbatical and I’m pissed about that, too. I get it.
They’re coming for so many of us. The list is long…way too long.
All of this. Thank you.
Thanks, Karen. Your newsletter is one of my primary sources of joy. Both the images and being “together” with other people who just love nature and birds.
Thank you. I intend to double down on making it a place of peace, hope, and joy.
Thank you for this Robyn. I also woke up this morning asking myself what is wrong with people. What are they thinking? I just don’t understand, but I must accept and move on. I am saving your list, and will remain vigilant. Hoping to be rid of the sadness and disappointment I feel right now, and to find joy in the simple things.
Thanks, Denise. I’m hoping the tight knot of anxiety in my stomach will fade with time. I only have one precious life and I’m trying to let them steal as few moments from that life as possible.
Thank you for this 🫶🏻
You’re so welcome, Jackie.
Thank you for assembling these words so quickly, Robyn. We’re in this together.
You’re so welcome, Asha.
I needed to read this. It gave me hope in all the despair I'm feeling.
Read this today, which helped me: “We have nothing to fear from despair. It is just the dying of an illusion. It is not the end.”
Feel all the despair. Just don’t let it be the end.
https://katherinemay.substack.com/p/we-have-nothing-to-fear-from-despair
Robyn, once again, you find a way to offer not only food for hope but help. Thank you. I'm being very careful about incoming voices right now but yours is always one I want to hear. I'm still processing as we all are but there is great comfort in the continuity of daily tasks - dogs to be fed, writing to be done, friends to connect with. Also: silence. I have not used my phone for anything but communication with loved ones. This feeling of space is healing.
You're so welcome, Betsy. Glad this was food for hope and help.
You are so right about silence and being careful about which voices we allow inside our heads. It's so easy in our anxiety to turn to our phones, which are shouting fear and anger and a thousand other emotions, all at once, all the time. Just one click and I find myself spiraling out of control. So thank you for reminding me that silence is perfectly okay and perhaps life-saving in these circumstances.
The hate inside me was so bitter and toxic last time. This really resonates with me. Thank you! And I hope you're taking good care.
It was bitter and toxic. I hate the way it made me feel. Trying to find that fine line between taking action and not being constantly consumed by rage, which I just don’t think my body can survive.