I'm BAAAACK! The Heart Felt Edition
How life and the world can hurt our hearts, and ways we can explore healing
Sometimes life can break our hearts, shatter them, leave us wondering how to keep going…and what we can possibly do to move towards healing…
Please excuse my long—and very unplanned—absence. I deeply appreciate your patience and ongoing support. You know I’ve been talking (and writing) to you in my head these past months…so much to reflect on…and learning about actions we can take to try and make a difference in a world that challenges our hearts in so many ways.
I’ve been meditating on some of the ways that our hearts guide us even when they’re bruised, bleeding, and just plain broken.
My last post was in early October, and the whole Palestine - Israel situation slammed me and my heart into uncharted territory. Like so many of us I was reeling and had to take time to absorb, to process, and to make sure I truly understood the heinous situation unfolding before our eyes.
I pulled back on my social media engagement to catch my breath. I communed with other Jews of Color, with #BLEWISH friends, watched tons of videos, read countless articles and social media posts, and—like so many of us—struggled to find footing on these constantly shifting grounds. Even now I’m straining to address the still-deepening pain this brings to my heart.
Thanks to a surprising but very welcome piece of spiritual guidance, I’m finding ways to navigate this situation which is both incredibly complex and morally simple. One thing I realize is that taking a public position on such matters is very different for those with DNA in the game. And that many of us will be forced to consider how our identities intersect with political entities and their agendas.
More on this later but in the meantime, if you’re moved to take action, here are some things you can do.
NEW DIRECTON!
The hiatus also offered an opportunity for me to search my heart about the focus of this here content related to Mixed people, Mixed identity, and Mixedness in general.
Imagine my surprise when I recognized that I was trying to run away from the very topic I most want and need to dive into: Decolonizing Mixedness. It’s a much more focused exploration of Mixedness, but it’s not a departure. And my heart says that it’s what I need to be doing now.
You might be wondering: What exactly does it mean to “decolonize Mixedness” anyway? Great question!
I’ll be exploring and investigating that idea and sharing what I discover with YOU as we learn and grow together. Stay tuned!
LET’S HELP SUPPORT SHARMANE…
And then there is the kind of devastating, life-altering heartBREAK that life slams us with sometimes.
You might remember that prior to my hiatus, I was a monthly guest co-host on Sharmane Fury, aka Sir Auntie Mane’s brilliant, award-winning podcast, “Militantly Mixed.”
Catch up on past episodes HERE
In addition to being a valued colleague, Sharmane has become a close friend and beloved family member. She and her husband, Tristan, moved to Mexico last year and were settling in when tragedy struck.
In late November, Tristan died suddenly and unexpectedly the age of 45. And now Sharmane is left to pick up the pieces and navigate soul-crushing grief while trying to find her way forward.
A friend is helping Sharmane raise funds to cover of medical and other expenses, and return to the states with her four cats, belongings, and their collective broken hearts.
Losing a loved one makes focusing on the basics of day-to-day survival feel impossible and the idea of “moving on” incomprehensible. Sharmane is being helped by loving friends, one of whom created this heartfelt crowdfunding effort…
AN EXCERPT FROM THE GOFUNDME PAGE
PLEASE, if you can spare any amount of money—even a few dollars—contribute to help Sharmane survive this devastating “new normal.” This is the true meaning and power of community—coming together in times of need—and this Mixed Auntie Confidential community was created and built in a collaborative relationship with Sharmane and Militantly Mixed.
We ARE family, you are part of our family, and we would be most grateful for any contribution that you can give. It doesn’t have to be a lot, and any amount will make a difference.
A heartfelt THANKS in advance.