Hi Dear Readers,
What do you do when the world is burning?
There is a lot going on. It’s hard to keep up. I’m thinking about Ukraine and the people staying and fleeing. I’m thinking about those in Russia who are against this war. I’m thinking about trans kids in Texas (and everywhere). I’m thinking about the pandemic that is still looming over all our heads.
This is a reminder to you that you do not need to read ALL THE THINGS ALL THE TIME. You can (and should) pick and choose what you read and place limits on your intake of information. Just this morning my psychiatrist reminded me to “limit” my news intake, which I instinctually know, but needed to hear. Doomscrolling will not help you. Doomscrolling will not help others either.
I have major information fatigue. And I think one way to combat that is to focus on one or two places that you go to get your information. This is hard to do if you’re on social media, of course, since we’re inundated with all kinds of things and could scroll forever. But generally, at least for news things, try to limit where you’re reading/watching/listening.
I used to get a lot of shit for not posting about X, Y, and Z on Instagram. I would be yelled at or questioned in private messages from people wondering if I cared about something since I didn’t post about it. I used to take these things so personally that I would immediately (without much research) find something to post. This was not good, dear readers. DO NOT DO THIS. If people are asking you why you’re not posting about something, you have two options: 1) ignore, or 2) tell them you are not the go-to source for this specific thing and that you, yourself, are reading and learning. You do not need to worry about posting on social media, especially during multiple global crises.
Make sure you are reflecting.
Make sure you are resting.
Make sure you are resisting.
Enjoy this week’s Leftovers,
xL<3
Reading List 🔖
Performative Social Media Activism Doesn't Help Ukraine - Stacia Datskovska
Our collective urge to shape society’s ills into a more visually appealing and bite-size format on social media—all while validating our egos—is a cyclical phenomenon.
Anarchist Solidarity With The People of Ukraine: Resources - Solidarity Apothecary
Instagram images of resources for support
What It’s Like to Thru-Hike the Appalachian Trail as a Transgender Woman - Mary Beth Skylis
Harrod knew that the Appalachian Trail wasn’t immune to violence when she began her hike, and she took extra steps to keep herself safe on trail. She and Henderson carefully deliberated over which social gatherings felt comfortable, to avoid conversations about her gender or sexual preferences. “We didn’t go out to bars. Wherever the big hiker gatherings were, we didn’t go,” she says. “It’s not that we didn’t want to hang out. But when people have drinks, they tend to say things they wouldn’t otherwise say.”
I’m a creator. You’re a creator. We’re all creators! - Rebecca Jennings
The creator economy, or the network of people working as creators and the businesses that rely on them, is related to but distinct from the gig economy. Both offer promises of flexibility and “being your own boss,” but in one scenario the worker agrees to participate in a particular place in an existing system, and in the other, the worker chooses to add something to an existing ecosystem that wasn’t there before.
Texas Is Terrorizing Trans Youth - Chase Strangio
Access to this care can be transformative for young people with gender dysphoria. Many families describe the experience of watching their child come alive and bloom. Many young people explain how the care saved their lives—an experience echoed by most trans adults. Though those like Abbott and Paxton distort the underlying science and play on people’s fears about transgender experiences and bodies, the data is clear: When young people are affirmed in their identity, they thrive.
The Ongoing Conflicts That Expose The West’s Double Standards - Dazed Digital
The international community has also rallied in support of Ukraine, providing arms and aid, issuing official demands via the UN, cutting economic ties, and calling for peace on city streets. However, many have pointed out the double standards of the west’s response, which has been particularly obvious in the racist angle of recent news coverage.
The Paralympic Paradigm: How the “Inspiring” Narrative Restricts and Fetishizes Disabled Athletes - s.e. smith
Negative attitudes toward disability start with how athletes are framed in news coverage. Athletes are consistently described by journalists as “brave,” “courageous,” or “resilient.”
Librarianship 🌻
Clara Stanton Jones: Librarian and Advocate - Rachel Rosenberg
Lies Librarians Tell - Nikki DeMarco
How Non-Librarians Imagine a Librarian’s Typical Workday - John Howard Matthews
Books of Note 📚
Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life - Alice Wong (nonfiction)
The Almond in the Apricot - Sara Goudarzi (fiction)
Arrow To The Moon - Emily X. R. Pan (young adult)
Make Meatballs Sing: The Life and Art of Corita Kent - Matthew Burgess (children’s book)
Content Warning: Everything - Akwaeke Emezi (poetry)
Radical Friendship: Seven Ways to Love Yourself and Find Your People in an Unjust World - Kate Johnson (self-help)
[If you order any of the books above or any listed on my Bookshop site, a percentage goes to local bookstores and I get a small commission. Thank you for not ordering from Amazon!]
Playlist 🎵
“Simulation Swarm” - Big Thief
”Dreaming” - Poly Styrene
”Like You’re God” - Mehro
”29” - Yaeji & OHHYUK
”King” - Florence & The Machine
Mood Board 💓
Self-Care + Good Things ☕
The succulents at my desk at work (pictured above!). Working out with Stella. My new Ember mug that keeps my coffee nice and toasty. Watching all the trashy reality shows: “Love is Blind,” “Married at First Sight,” and “Before the 90 Days.” Naps. Punch needle.