It wasn’t all that long ago when my own network was shallow AF. I had a good deal of diversity with respect to economic class, gender and sexual preference, and because I live in the Pacific Northwest I have lots of Asian in southeast Asian, friends, acquaintances, and colleagues.

And I had almost no Native or Black women in my circles. I addressed that by following interesting folks, WATCHING WHAT THEY WERE WATCHING AND READING WHAT THEY WERE READING and gradually developing relationships.

I have always loved the ending of Middlemarch:

“But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.”

I proposed the world is changed by small people doing small things faithfully in the face of big evil.

Just over two weeks ago, I started taking hydroxyzine, a prescription and a histamine, 20 mg morning in evening. Prior to this I had been using certrizine and or loratadine. Changing to hydroxyzine (I started 10 mg twice a day) and gradually increasing the dose has made a huge difference in my #MCAS symptoms.

Because my system is calmer, it is now possible to notice how different foods and supplements affect me. This is a huge win all around. Your mileage may vary.