What to write about when the world is burning to a crisp

...and finding the places that are doing good for the world

I have not been in a writer’s funk like this in years. Every time I think of something I want to say (How to Romanticize A Simple Life, Playstacks, New Music Posts… the Totalitarianism of Taylor Swift) I get overwhelmed with a sense of unimportance. Who cares about my opinion on pop stars or what I have to say about trying to make a simple life beautiful and turning the mundane into something exciting when our world is quickly dying a death from bombings, global warming, capitalist greed, and an amount of hate I didn’t think was humanly possible? Sure, there’s a level to the idea that “we can only control what we can control” but there is also something exceedingly frustrating about not being able to do more when I want to do so much more. “Talking to your friends and family about fascism” ended when none of it worked and Donald Trump, after becoming a convicted felon, has a higher vote than when he started.

So where do I go from here? Peach Pasta was an escape for me and for anyone who read it that wanted to feel a little Dolce Vita, a little spritz on a hot sand beach. But how can I dolce vita my life when there are children whose guts are exploding out of their bodies with parents watching before being killed themselves? Why is my life and my sons life more important? Why is literally any of this happening? What the hell is the point of living in a body if we just destroy the body next to ours?

Because I don’t have any answer for anything, and I’m just a white 35-year-old mother who lives in a nice and cozy house upstate, it can feel really daunting to put anything out because theres just immense guilt that overpowers your brain. I am in a very lucky position to be in a safe environment, with a passion project job and more passion projects on the side (more about that later). Through my job of teaching workout classes I’ve been able to meet really incredible women, and women who are doing really powerful things with their time. One of which, is a Non-Profit Foundation called Eleison.

Eleison was started by Laura Tsai, a PhD and MSSW who created this out of the dire need to have trauma informed care in Southeast Asia for men and women who have been trafficked. It’s hard to find a non-profit like this that’s not run by white savior complexed humans who don’t understand trauma care and want to see themselves as superman (thanks to the Hollywoodification of a very very real problem in the world). I am hoping if I can do one thing on the advisory board of this incredible foundation, it’s to show people that they need to stop worrying about their child being kidnapped in a Target, and focus their attention, time, and money on the men and women, boys and girls all over the world—especially in Southeast Asia— who have have suffered by the hands of some type of trafficking. Whether it be sex trafficking, indentured slavery, etc, Eleison provides the tools to survivors to seek help and create a healthier community for people so that the cycle of trafficking ends.

Our programs help survivors recover from human trafficking and gender-based violence, reduce their risk for re-exploitation, and support their resilience and security. We use trauma-informed and evidence-based approaches in all our services. Through our participatory model, our services address survivors’ real priorities and needs.

Here is the website for Eleison, and a donation page if you feel so inclined. If you find yourself moved by Laura’s work, and the work of all the people involved, and maybe want to get involved (!) please do not hesitate to send me a message.

Human beings are born good. I see it everyday every time I hang out with my son. Use your time, your energy, and your money FOR good. We all have it in us to make this Earth a paradise. Do your part.