This is so good Katharine. Holding on to my values is the mantra running through my head. And oh shit, that “unfreedom” line 😬
I generally can’t read alarmist pieces here on Substack, mainly because I can’t do most of the things on their prep lists and also I have a kid with a disability…so many things just aren’t possible for us and it only make my anxiety spike through the roof. This piece is grounding and reminds me of the very real things I can do to hold onto my core values.
Also that veggie tales song 🤣🤣 how did he get the xtian power ballad vibe so perfectly?
Thanks Lindsey! I'm with you on the anxiety spike after reading prepper stuff. It makes me think of a trick we used to use when I was actress called the "circle of attention." When we started to feel stage fright, we would pull back our attention to the area right around us on the stage and focus there. Here is my sphere of influence--don't think of those people sitting in the dark auditorium, you have no control over them. Of course, that's easier said than done!
And yes to the xtian power ballad! I honestly would groove out to this, hands raised, in a worship service, haha
Katharine, I've come back to this essay several times to let it sink deeper into my consciousness, noodling on this section in particular--
"While Trump works out his narcissism upon our citizenry, will we be able to resist? How will we make difficult choices if our livelihoods, communities, or freedom is at risk?"
--and on the notion of freedom as a burden vs unfreedom as a relief Beckerman writes about.
I feel unsettled by my own silence over the last few months, so I've taken your *inner code* challenge to heart. I'll be writing about it soon. Thank you for your voice and for bringing such thought-provoking topics up for discussion.
Thank you for saying so! It's always nice to hear that something I've written has been impactful. And complete empathy for you as you sort out how you want to respond. I think a lot of us have been feeling this way since the inauguration.
Agreed. Especially ike your personal line bullet points and want to check out A French Village.
Someone (don't know who) said something like if history doesn't exactly repeat itself it can rhyme. So so much to go into but not feeling cogent enough.
Love this Katharine! I'm fortunate (I guess?) enough to be in a profession, sex therapy, that's on the fast track to being named as civil disobedience. Meta has already placed sanctions on folks who provide sexual health content on IG and Facebook. States have threatened the licenses of therapists who provide therapy to trans teens and young adults.
Civil disobedience, for me, requires me to keep doing my job, regardless of what sanctions come down from governments and technocrat-wannabes.
I'm so sorry for all the difficulty you're going through just to help people.
I like the angle you've brought in here about professional ethics. There was a big demonstration in Seattle last week of lawyers reaffirming their commitment to upholding the law, it was so inspiring.
This is so good Katharine. Holding on to my values is the mantra running through my head. And oh shit, that “unfreedom” line 😬
I generally can’t read alarmist pieces here on Substack, mainly because I can’t do most of the things on their prep lists and also I have a kid with a disability…so many things just aren’t possible for us and it only make my anxiety spike through the roof. This piece is grounding and reminds me of the very real things I can do to hold onto my core values.
Also that veggie tales song 🤣🤣 how did he get the xtian power ballad vibe so perfectly?
Thanks Lindsey! I'm with you on the anxiety spike after reading prepper stuff. It makes me think of a trick we used to use when I was actress called the "circle of attention." When we started to feel stage fright, we would pull back our attention to the area right around us on the stage and focus there. Here is my sphere of influence--don't think of those people sitting in the dark auditorium, you have no control over them. Of course, that's easier said than done!
And yes to the xtian power ballad! I honestly would groove out to this, hands raised, in a worship service, haha
Absolutely! Why can’t the vegetable be saved?!
VEGETABLE UNIVERSALISM!!!
Katharine, I've come back to this essay several times to let it sink deeper into my consciousness, noodling on this section in particular--
"While Trump works out his narcissism upon our citizenry, will we be able to resist? How will we make difficult choices if our livelihoods, communities, or freedom is at risk?"
--and on the notion of freedom as a burden vs unfreedom as a relief Beckerman writes about.
I feel unsettled by my own silence over the last few months, so I've taken your *inner code* challenge to heart. I'll be writing about it soon. Thank you for your voice and for bringing such thought-provoking topics up for discussion.
Thank you for saying so! It's always nice to hear that something I've written has been impactful. And complete empathy for you as you sort out how you want to respond. I think a lot of us have been feeling this way since the inauguration.
I like your inner code and would add to mine: *Stay curious.*
That's a good one!
Agreed. Especially ike your personal line bullet points and want to check out A French Village.
Someone (don't know who) said something like if history doesn't exactly repeat itself it can rhyme. So so much to go into but not feeling cogent enough.
The rhyming thing is so true. Preparation feels almost inadequate when we don't know what will happen, but we can try.
Love this Katharine! I'm fortunate (I guess?) enough to be in a profession, sex therapy, that's on the fast track to being named as civil disobedience. Meta has already placed sanctions on folks who provide sexual health content on IG and Facebook. States have threatened the licenses of therapists who provide therapy to trans teens and young adults.
Civil disobedience, for me, requires me to keep doing my job, regardless of what sanctions come down from governments and technocrat-wannabes.
I'm so sorry for all the difficulty you're going through just to help people.
I like the angle you've brought in here about professional ethics. There was a big demonstration in Seattle last week of lawyers reaffirming their commitment to upholding the law, it was so inspiring.
Keep up the good work!
Yah. I’m hoping that more organizations do this, including my career of relationship and sex therapy.