A. Snack tray dinner sounds amazing. My current fav discord group has coined the term "squirrel dinner" (as opposed to "girl dinner" because as a group we are very queer/gay/non binary and needed a new word. And it makes me very happy 💖)
B. Capitalism is the worst at making us feel as though we are worthless if we are not producing.
You are worthy of love and comfort no matter if or how much you produce. Just being you and enjoying yourself and spending time thinking about things you enjoy is plenty! Napping is plenty. You are enough, in any situation, and you are loved. ❤️❤️❤️
I'm still on the waitlist to read Rest is Resistance but I suspect it will stir these feelings up for me, just as this column has. I don't know whether it means anything to you to know you're not alone in this. It means a great deal to me that through your sharing, you let me know I'm not alone in this.
Capitalism and the push to always be increasingly "productive" really is evil - not to mention the Western civilizations imposing, undermining, and exploiting other cultures and countries to do/be the same as them. I don't even know if that makes sense, but all of that infuriates me. We should be trying to emulate other countries that have a more free time for enjoyment, interactions, and siestas! (Not to mention the big corporations that are making money off of all of this pressure to "succeed", which is actually harmful.) Go against the grain - be creative, work when you need/want to, and take nap, a break, put your feet up, and enjoy!
You have made the impact of Capitalism on a creative life so clear in this essay. Brava! And I share your dismay at the isolation of suburbia, the Seattle freeze and how we don't close our days with friendly conversation...connection! A friend who did some work in Russia years ago said the Russians called America a work camp with good food. Hmmm...
So resonant. I know this struggle well -- the continual act of decolonizing my system in a world hell bent on productivity and being busy after leaving a 10+ year career in public education was a very messy, uncomfortable, and grief-laden affair. Three years later, the journey continues, but the relationship has shifted. Hell yes to crafts and art, hell yes to falling apart a little or a lot, hell yes to Tricia Hersey's work, hell yes for talking about it in public. Thank you for this.
The title really stirred me and brought me the gift of memories of my beginning journey of becoming disabled and learning to find the roots of capitalism inside me being ableist to me, the idea of naps being terrifying and now 8 years later....thanks for the gift of reminding me of the journey. I really felt in my bones what you laid down today and it meets my needs for truth.
Thank you for sharing this. I’ve struggled with being comfortable in not being busy too. Reading the work of Tricia Hersey has transformed how I think about rest. One reader above recommended her book, Rest is Resistance, I second that recommendation.
Tricia Hersey's work has been transformative for me as well. Her analysis of rest in terms of liberation, in the context of white supremacy and capitalism, is essential (in my opinion).
Healing from the exhaustion of patriarcy is hard work. When you relax, you are Healing from oppression! I highly recommend you find joy and purpose in rest.
I think "lazy" is the insult of choice from the mean inner voice inside all of us with ADHD (likely because we heard it from adults in our lives when we were children). It's pernicious because it feels like it applies, whether I'm actually taking needed rest or struggling with executive function challenges or just trying to enjoy something that isn't work.
My husband has ADHD and I’m autistic (which also comes with hyperfocus, just not to the same degree) and I think you are absolutely right about the messaging about rest and enjoying your hobbies that capitalism hurls at everyone, but especially people who are neurodivergent. Good luck learning to embrace stillness! And if you want any book recommendations Rest is Resistance by Tricia Heresy is amazing!
I really appreciate your openness. I'm just learning about my ADHD and not feeling guilty for being "lazy" or "indulgent" at all times seems to be a side effect of that learning (plus a lot of therapy). Thank you for sharing.
Guilt is a tool of oppression. Paradoxically the cultures that use it the most worship a do-nothing god! I started telling them to worship me so...take it lightly!
I am so very happy for you that your hard work has gotten you to a place where you can take naps and eat snacks. As someone completely in the middle of the single parenting-young kids mess, let me implore you to help the cause with your new powers of naps and snacks. Someone needs to light the way! You have earned this! Be the light at the end of the tunnel!
Thank you for your reminder that stilllness has value!
Also, fave BBM (Boat Brawl Meme) right now is the back to school shopping trip where the mom is trying to decide which folding chair to purchase when sending her kid to a majority white school. *chef's kiss*
A. Snack tray dinner sounds amazing. My current fav discord group has coined the term "squirrel dinner" (as opposed to "girl dinner" because as a group we are very queer/gay/non binary and needed a new word. And it makes me very happy 💖)
B. Capitalism is the worst at making us feel as though we are worthless if we are not producing.
You are worthy of love and comfort no matter if or how much you produce. Just being you and enjoying yourself and spending time thinking about things you enjoy is plenty! Napping is plenty. You are enough, in any situation, and you are loved. ❤️❤️❤️
I love your “squirrel dinner”
I'm still on the waitlist to read Rest is Resistance but I suspect it will stir these feelings up for me, just as this column has. I don't know whether it means anything to you to know you're not alone in this. It means a great deal to me that through your sharing, you let me know I'm not alone in this.
Capitalism and the push to always be increasingly "productive" really is evil - not to mention the Western civilizations imposing, undermining, and exploiting other cultures and countries to do/be the same as them. I don't even know if that makes sense, but all of that infuriates me. We should be trying to emulate other countries that have a more free time for enjoyment, interactions, and siestas! (Not to mention the big corporations that are making money off of all of this pressure to "succeed", which is actually harmful.) Go against the grain - be creative, work when you need/want to, and take nap, a break, put your feet up, and enjoy!
You have made the impact of Capitalism on a creative life so clear in this essay. Brava! And I share your dismay at the isolation of suburbia, the Seattle freeze and how we don't close our days with friendly conversation...connection! A friend who did some work in Russia years ago said the Russians called America a work camp with good food. Hmmm...
So resonant. I know this struggle well -- the continual act of decolonizing my system in a world hell bent on productivity and being busy after leaving a 10+ year career in public education was a very messy, uncomfortable, and grief-laden affair. Three years later, the journey continues, but the relationship has shifted. Hell yes to crafts and art, hell yes to falling apart a little or a lot, hell yes to Tricia Hersey's work, hell yes for talking about it in public. Thank you for this.
The title really stirred me and brought me the gift of memories of my beginning journey of becoming disabled and learning to find the roots of capitalism inside me being ableist to me, the idea of naps being terrifying and now 8 years later....thanks for the gift of reminding me of the journey. I really felt in my bones what you laid down today and it meets my needs for truth.
Thank you for sharing this. I’ve struggled with being comfortable in not being busy too. Reading the work of Tricia Hersey has transformed how I think about rest. One reader above recommended her book, Rest is Resistance, I second that recommendation.
Tricia Hersey's work has been transformative for me as well. Her analysis of rest in terms of liberation, in the context of white supremacy and capitalism, is essential (in my opinion).
Thanks. this comment is the first I've heard of her. I got her book from the library and the cards from a bookstore. What a find!!
Wonderful! I recommend her and her work as much as I can without being insufferable 😊 I have the cards, too, and just love them
Healing from the exhaustion of patriarcy is hard work. When you relax, you are Healing from oppression! I highly recommend you find joy and purpose in rest.
I think "lazy" is the insult of choice from the mean inner voice inside all of us with ADHD (likely because we heard it from adults in our lives when we were children). It's pernicious because it feels like it applies, whether I'm actually taking needed rest or struggling with executive function challenges or just trying to enjoy something that isn't work.
My husband has ADHD and I’m autistic (which also comes with hyperfocus, just not to the same degree) and I think you are absolutely right about the messaging about rest and enjoying your hobbies that capitalism hurls at everyone, but especially people who are neurodivergent. Good luck learning to embrace stillness! And if you want any book recommendations Rest is Resistance by Tricia Heresy is amazing!
I really appreciate your openness. I'm just learning about my ADHD and not feeling guilty for being "lazy" or "indulgent" at all times seems to be a side effect of that learning (plus a lot of therapy). Thank you for sharing.
I recently bought a poster at a comic art fair that says "Routinely Do Nothing". It's really ok to do nothing.
Guilt is a tool of oppression. Paradoxically the cultures that use it the most worship a do-nothing god! I started telling them to worship me so...take it lightly!
Wishing you the best of luck with this. New things are always hard for us humans. Takes all of us time to learn new habits.
I am so very happy for you that your hard work has gotten you to a place where you can take naps and eat snacks. As someone completely in the middle of the single parenting-young kids mess, let me implore you to help the cause with your new powers of naps and snacks. Someone needs to light the way! You have earned this! Be the light at the end of the tunnel!
Thank you for your reminder that stilllness has value!
Also, fave BBM (Boat Brawl Meme) right now is the back to school shopping trip where the mom is trying to decide which folding chair to purchase when sending her kid to a majority white school. *chef's kiss*