How Do You Slow Down

I never envisioned this newsletter to be super personal or anything deep. Sure, my connection to certain pieces of media might bring out something vulnerable, but that wasn’t my intention with this space. I’ve been online long enough to know how that can be weaponized and whatnot.

So, while I was debating on what to write for my second edition (probably something on how The Traitors has taken hold of my brain), reality struck. I live in LA, and as you already know, there are a lot of parts on LA still on fire. I am safe, didn’t have to evacuate, but it’s definitely made me pause and consider what actually is needed in the world right now.

As my first issue stated, kindness is a survival skill. And wow, how much of that was illustrated this month so far. All the financial donations, the offers to keep people who have lost everything housed, the fact that most places accepting physical donations had to tell people to stop, it was all very heartening. The only way through tragedy and our current political instability is together. We need to rely on community and the kindness of others.

I often think of January as a trial month, and that has also remained true! Nearly all of the things I planned to work on this year (limiting social media/screen time, focusing on one task at a time, fix my sleep schedule, write this newsletter) went on the back burner as my brain couldn’t handle what was going on in my community.

Somewhat fortuitously, I started reading Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock by Jenny Odell (Natalie Portman’s book club pick for January). I’m not even halfway through, but it’s been so fascinating to read. It’s not a self-help book, more a study on how time is measured and has been measured in the past. It’s extremely intersectional with discussions on slavery and unpaid domestic labor. She touches on climate change and how that affects our view of time. Also, she writes that it’s nearly impossible to slow down or defeat burnout while we live in a capitalistic society! This book could not have come at a better time for me.

I’m going to end this newsletter with some resources for the wildfire recovery, but don’t feel obligated if you can’t give anything. Maybe just share these links to others. It’s going to be a long process to have LA return to “normal”, and anything help

• Wildfire Recovery Fund

• LAPL Palisades Branch Recovery Fund

• Altadena Girls

• California Fire Foundation

• Pasadena Humane

Hope everyone else is doing well. Or as well as we can be with this new administration. See you next time with hopefully a happier newsletter.