Reminder that straight money donations to food pantries goes further than food donations!

Not that food donations are inherently bad, mind you. If you have spare canned goods, or your garden was extra productive, or things like that they'll still accept it!

But, if you donate straight money, most food banks have someone whose entire job is using those donations to get the best deals on food as possible. Lots of buying in bulk or getting deals straight from food producers. Your $1 donation can be stretched to a solid $5 worth of food in the right hands

I read a post recently that decried making #art for art’s sake in such troubled times.

I heartily disagree.

Making art, no matter the purpose, brings joy and beauty into a world sorely lacking in both. Sure, art can be a form of protest, but let’s not be limiting the Muses when we need them most.

I went to a talk lately that was mostly about something else, but the speaker came out with:

“If you only remember one thing from this talk, remember this. Everyone in this room who likes helping people, raise your hand.”

Every hand, or nearly every hand, went up.

“If you like asking other people for help, keep your hand up.”

Almost every hand went back down.

“As you can see, people like helping you. When you ask for help, you’re making them feel good, even if you don’t like asking.”

I’ve genuinely forgotten the rest of the presentation but I won’t forget that.

Reminder: Just because someone is posting on social media a lot, visibly doing projects, and otherwise looks like they're living their best life

1) Does not mean they are ok - social media is often a distraction and an escape valve

2) Does not mean they are ignoring you - they may be overwhelmed and incapable of handling messages

reminder that you are under no obligation to doomscroll for the next four years

it will not help you

it will not change anything you do

it will not help you help anyone around you

dont feel obligated to do so

this is not the same thing as being politically engaged, even remotely