Greetings! I spent the weekend celebrating my daughter’s 17th birthday. Very low key – at her request. We went to the Adventure Aquarium in Camden and spent time around all things aquatic. Later we had some fabulous pizza and then game night with some friends. Last year at this time, things were a bit off the rails. Now, Linnia seems incredibly centered and is just fun to pal around with. What a difference a year can make. I’ve included a photo from our day at the aquarium because I know that at some point in our lives, we all can identify with a certain penguin in the line-up.
I never know how folks will respond to these columns nor can I predict what topics will elicit the most feedback. Last week’s message, in which I wrote about my general exhaustion with the world, seemed to strike a chord. I heard from a lot of you – a combination of checking in (I’m fine, thanks) and, as a very good friend wrote, “amen, sister.” We seem to be a collectivity of worry, stress, disgust, and anger.
Not much has changed, at least for me, since last week. There’s still the horror in Gaza, the tawdry Trump trial, the crackdown on campus protests. On the more personal level there’s the day-to-day grind of work, parenting, bill paying. It just feels hard to come up for air.
One thing that has become evident, at least to me, is that so many of these crises stem from a lack of real leadership. Instead, what we see is heavy-handed, authoritarian, gaslighting responses to situations that either make things worse, don’t address the fundamental issues, or both. I think that is why the student protests are, in many ways, so invigorating and hopeful. Even with the missteps, these were efforts to collectively take the lead, shape the debate, and demand accountability. That gives me hope.
Catching one’s breath. Rejuvenating. Taking breaks. While it was my daughter’s weekend, I realize how much I benefited from taking the time to be with her. To stare at the fishes. To enjoy a good meal. To play ridiculous games (try Ransom Notes – hysterical). We all need more of these moments. Perhaps the best gift we can give ourselves and each other is to intentionally create times of play, relaxation, and connection.
In solidarity,
Cheryl (chair@acosa.org)