This is my 1st discussion thread inspired by yesterday’s newsletter! I want to focus on building & sustaining community on this newsletter. Also, to keep doing this work, I need/ want to be able to hear from you because that is what gives my life purpose tbh.
What do you do when you realize you’ve emotionally numbed yourself for long periods of time to survive capitalism’s daily grind? What has helped you break from the monotony, repetition & mundane nature of “daily life” under capitalism?
Okay— so the goal on these discussion threads is for us to share tools, resources & things we do that have helped us because why reinvent the wheel? Liberation is a collective struggle & I know it’ll help me to quickly look up threads like this down the line when I hit a slump & begin questioning my worth as the system often pushes me to feel like a failure. It’s often hard to resource help & come up with ideas as you’re smack in the middle of a burnout crisis so having a list of go-to things that help us unplug is EVERYTHING.
I asked this question a while back on IG and wanted to share some responses that may inspire you:
This might take some reflection- so take a minute to think about what makes you feel ALIVE? What helps you remember the beautiful things in life? When are you in awe of the power of your ecosystem to regenerate you?
What helps you feel curious, excited, passionate, in love? When do you feel the most connected to your surroundings, other people & realize that you are PART of nature & not separate from it?
Thank you for this thoughtful question. Too often I neglect myself in order to meet the demands of capitalist expectations in work/life/body/etc.
What makes me feel alive is surfing with friends, cooking with my partner, sharing food with family, taking deep breaths, cancelling all my plans to just BE without screens or to-do lists.
Thank you for this thread! I love how people are sharing not just what but why and sometimes how.
For me, yoga practices (particularly asana and pranayama), herbal teas (fresh from my garden when possible), and journaling help remind me to be present and compassionate with WHATEVER is going on beneath the surface of my default public persona.
Writing and playing music is my no. 1 for feeling ALIVE, followed closely by laughter (with friends is even better), dancing in a big group of people, and enjoying (preferably sharing) a warm, home cooked meal with fresh ingredients (from local farmers when I can afford it).
I also work with plant medicines (some noticeably psychoactive and some not) to help move big emotions, past traumas, and as a reminder that our connection to all living things comes with both benefits and responsibilities.
Sharing a list of some additional responses I received to this question on IG :
• Swimming naked in natural water bodies 🌊
• Gardening, taking care of house plants, joining the community garden and cooking food (some folks emphasized on cooking with herbs, fruits & veggies cultivated in their garden or cooking with any food that is grown/ foraged) 🌿
• Get off social media, connecting with community in person & spending time in the wilderness with loved ones 👩🏾🤝👩🏽
• Radical reading 📚
• Reading and learning about the universe/ astrophysics 🌌 (also a personal fave of mine!)
• Participating in mutual aid efforts with others and building solidarity ✊🏽
Engaging at my own pace with various handicrafts; sewing, embroidery, and others to make gifts, costumes, or simply give myself clothing I want that fits and lasts well. Using older food preservation techniques to prolong seasonal tastes and share with friends near and far. Rediscovering herbal practices my great grandmother used. Teaching outside an academic context. And like many in this thread, taking care of adopted animals.
spending time with friends doing activities that are cheap/ cost very little money. buying board games at thrift stores for game nights, mini inflatable pool or drawing with chalk together. also planting and growing our own foods is a great way to connect with nature and each other while also reaffirming our autonomy and independence from capitalistic systems.
Before I find the space to articulate my reflections fully I just wanted to share my gratitude for this thread - it’s been a beautiful and needed prompt to reflect deeply and affirming to see patterns in how we each approach finding ways to reconnect with ourselves, one another and the beautiful, complex world we belong to in order to restore ourselves. Thankyou 🙏🏼
Jun 26, 2022·edited Jun 26, 2022Liked by Ayesha Khan, Ph.D.
Resting at work and living like I'm on vacation all the rest of time, music and singing, talking to children (I work with children), talking to strangers, going outside even if it's just sitting on the stoop, making pleasure a priority, eating whatever I'm craving and disregarding diet culture, stimming.
I feel free when I dance. I try to make sure I schedule a dance class for myself at least once or twice a week. Specifically, I love Zumba and Soca! My mind drifts away and my body feels so joyful moving that I could cry.
i enjoy my garden, or taking a walk outside with my dog. sometimes i need my community, i need people and connection. i needed it after the news yesterday, and i saw a pop-up community event happen in a local park as a response, so i attended it. i love local events, seeing local food and goods, all coming together to serve each other. observing our diverse community flowing together before my eyes is a healing sight to me. to feel that connection, i do have to look or seek it out but it can always be found.
Jun 25, 2022·edited Jun 25, 2022Liked by Ayesha Khan, Ph.D.
I have really enjoyed reading everyone's comments so far! <3 My two adopted cats are majorly grounding for me - watching them play and occasionally annoy one another lol really stimulates a childlike joy within me, and how peaceful and safe they seem to feel when they sleep in our home sometimes brings tears to my eyes, honestly, like knowing that my partner and I have been able to create a loving environment for them where they feel safe to be vulnerable (literally in ways that would make them prone to nature if they were outside) reminds me that I am safe, too.
I also live in a big city with a big "park" that is anything but natural, BUT being able to walk a few blocks there and be immersed in the sights and smells of nature does wonders for me. The ocean is my major happy place (Pisces over here) and I find a lot of connection to the world just by sitting near it and breathing in the salt air. I do a lot of trash sweeps in my neighborhood, too - an easy way to glean a bit of control in our chaotic world. Even getting a "hey, thanks for doing that!" from a neighbor makes me feel great, and is a half-hour of my time that I'm not doom-scrolling.
AND being ~brave~ and saying good morning to my neighbors, even if they don't say good morning back (often!). Asking people who I see regularly what their names are, etc. Having those moments of connecting with others, however shallow, reminds me that I'm not alone, and has been a really great practice for me as someone who has struggled a lot with finding connection. Even if the "good morning" or whatever isn't reciprocated, I feel proud of myself for doing something that not a lot of other people do and for trying to connect in a world that loves to drive us apart.
Jun 25, 2022·edited Jun 25, 2022Liked by Ayesha Khan, Ph.D.
I feel alive to the wonders and beauty of this chaotic world most when I am with my cat. She purrs, sleeps on my lap and I am like what did I do to deserve so much love from her. I feel so stressed around my family but that's where she lives too and I tell myself as long as I have her love, ots going to be fine. Other than that, I love walking aimlessly, it makes me feel so grounded but the places in India where I've lived do not have much trees and parks, it's all shops and apartments. I plan to start growing some plants in my garden (inspired by Jess), I think I'd really connect to the greens. Also several times a day, I space out looking at the the sky and clouds outside my window. The dorm I used to live in until last month had no windows, no wonder it drove me batshit crazy. The monsoon has arrived here and my nervous system is being soothed by rain, petrichor and thunders.
I garden. Connecting & grounding in the earth. Planting something edible that bypasses the system. Reminding myself I'm nature. Witnessing the regenerative processes of the garden ecosystem. Being.
Walk with my dog, especially in the early morning or evening. Strike up a conversation with a stranger - even if it’s a bit shallow, I can still feel care and connection. Cook without a plan, exploring ingredients from nature, and eat something nourishing. Spend time with art to peek into how another human sees, feels, perceives their world. Write letters to friends I can’t see in the flesh. Close my eyes and face the sun if I can find it.
I am going through a lot at the moment and appreciate all the people who mentioned the somatic nervous system and dorsal vagal nerve: I am working on this to increase my resilience and tap into my stuck emotions. Thanks all.
Weed keeps me grounded and lets me feel how stressed my body is, which can be hard to do when I'm numb. It also forces me into a state of relaxation. Singing helps a lot! Writing without judging myself, just letting the words flow without filter helps. Yoga is weekly form of maintenance for me. I'm getting to a point where running is more restorative then stressful, but I'm not quite there yet! Ranting to my friends also helps.
Thank you for this thoughtful question. Too often I neglect myself in order to meet the demands of capitalist expectations in work/life/body/etc.
What makes me feel alive is surfing with friends, cooking with my partner, sharing food with family, taking deep breaths, cancelling all my plans to just BE without screens or to-do lists.
Thank you for this thread! I love how people are sharing not just what but why and sometimes how.
For me, yoga practices (particularly asana and pranayama), herbal teas (fresh from my garden when possible), and journaling help remind me to be present and compassionate with WHATEVER is going on beneath the surface of my default public persona.
Writing and playing music is my no. 1 for feeling ALIVE, followed closely by laughter (with friends is even better), dancing in a big group of people, and enjoying (preferably sharing) a warm, home cooked meal with fresh ingredients (from local farmers when I can afford it).
I also work with plant medicines (some noticeably psychoactive and some not) to help move big emotions, past traumas, and as a reminder that our connection to all living things comes with both benefits and responsibilities.
Sharing a list of some additional responses I received to this question on IG :
• Swimming naked in natural water bodies 🌊
• Gardening, taking care of house plants, joining the community garden and cooking food (some folks emphasized on cooking with herbs, fruits & veggies cultivated in their garden or cooking with any food that is grown/ foraged) 🌿
• Get off social media, connecting with community in person & spending time in the wilderness with loved ones 👩🏾🤝👩🏽
• Radical reading 📚
• Reading and learning about the universe/ astrophysics 🌌 (also a personal fave of mine!)
• Participating in mutual aid efforts with others and building solidarity ✊🏽
• Sex, cuddles & affection from loved ones + pets ❤️🔥
• Storytelling in community with honesty, sharing meals & heartache with people 🍜
• Hiking in the forest, observing wild animals in the wilderness, long walks in parks, exercising in any form (dancing or body movement) 🏋🏾♀️
• Watching sci-fi & fantasy shows (I LOVE reading these genres specifically because they enable an imaginative escape!) 🧬
• Lean in & listen to whispers/ voices as spirits to understand them & be in connection with them ✨
• Crochet, Knit & making art with your hands/ body in a way that requires you to engage actively with the present 🎨
• Drugs and art on drugs! 🍄
• Try to laugh & cry through art, watching something, a friendship to wake up and feel again 🥹
• Sitting in the sun, Looking at sunlight shining thru the leaves of a big ol’ tree, listening to birds or crickets (admiring nature!) 🌳
• Community gatherings, free art spaces, events, festivals & community organizing collectives ✊🏽
• Using the plant ID app while on a walk to learn about the plants in your local ecosystem 🍀
• Make art, CRY, DAYDREAM 💖
• Playing with surroundings like we did when we were children & exploring 👧🏽
• Being an absolute dork & clown with loved ones to bring about as much joy as possible 🤭
• Playing a musical instrument, singing & listening to ethnic/ cultural music to connect with ancestors 🥁
Engaging at my own pace with various handicrafts; sewing, embroidery, and others to make gifts, costumes, or simply give myself clothing I want that fits and lasts well. Using older food preservation techniques to prolong seasonal tastes and share with friends near and far. Rediscovering herbal practices my great grandmother used. Teaching outside an academic context. And like many in this thread, taking care of adopted animals.
spending time with friends doing activities that are cheap/ cost very little money. buying board games at thrift stores for game nights, mini inflatable pool or drawing with chalk together. also planting and growing our own foods is a great way to connect with nature and each other while also reaffirming our autonomy and independence from capitalistic systems.
Before I find the space to articulate my reflections fully I just wanted to share my gratitude for this thread - it’s been a beautiful and needed prompt to reflect deeply and affirming to see patterns in how we each approach finding ways to reconnect with ourselves, one another and the beautiful, complex world we belong to in order to restore ourselves. Thankyou 🙏🏼
Resting at work and living like I'm on vacation all the rest of time, music and singing, talking to children (I work with children), talking to strangers, going outside even if it's just sitting on the stoop, making pleasure a priority, eating whatever I'm craving and disregarding diet culture, stimming.
I feel free when I dance. I try to make sure I schedule a dance class for myself at least once or twice a week. Specifically, I love Zumba and Soca! My mind drifts away and my body feels so joyful moving that I could cry.
i enjoy my garden, or taking a walk outside with my dog. sometimes i need my community, i need people and connection. i needed it after the news yesterday, and i saw a pop-up community event happen in a local park as a response, so i attended it. i love local events, seeing local food and goods, all coming together to serve each other. observing our diverse community flowing together before my eyes is a healing sight to me. to feel that connection, i do have to look or seek it out but it can always be found.
I have really enjoyed reading everyone's comments so far! <3 My two adopted cats are majorly grounding for me - watching them play and occasionally annoy one another lol really stimulates a childlike joy within me, and how peaceful and safe they seem to feel when they sleep in our home sometimes brings tears to my eyes, honestly, like knowing that my partner and I have been able to create a loving environment for them where they feel safe to be vulnerable (literally in ways that would make them prone to nature if they were outside) reminds me that I am safe, too.
I also live in a big city with a big "park" that is anything but natural, BUT being able to walk a few blocks there and be immersed in the sights and smells of nature does wonders for me. The ocean is my major happy place (Pisces over here) and I find a lot of connection to the world just by sitting near it and breathing in the salt air. I do a lot of trash sweeps in my neighborhood, too - an easy way to glean a bit of control in our chaotic world. Even getting a "hey, thanks for doing that!" from a neighbor makes me feel great, and is a half-hour of my time that I'm not doom-scrolling.
AND being ~brave~ and saying good morning to my neighbors, even if they don't say good morning back (often!). Asking people who I see regularly what their names are, etc. Having those moments of connecting with others, however shallow, reminds me that I'm not alone, and has been a really great practice for me as someone who has struggled a lot with finding connection. Even if the "good morning" or whatever isn't reciprocated, I feel proud of myself for doing something that not a lot of other people do and for trying to connect in a world that loves to drive us apart.
I feel alive to the wonders and beauty of this chaotic world most when I am with my cat. She purrs, sleeps on my lap and I am like what did I do to deserve so much love from her. I feel so stressed around my family but that's where she lives too and I tell myself as long as I have her love, ots going to be fine. Other than that, I love walking aimlessly, it makes me feel so grounded but the places in India where I've lived do not have much trees and parks, it's all shops and apartments. I plan to start growing some plants in my garden (inspired by Jess), I think I'd really connect to the greens. Also several times a day, I space out looking at the the sky and clouds outside my window. The dorm I used to live in until last month had no windows, no wonder it drove me batshit crazy. The monsoon has arrived here and my nervous system is being soothed by rain, petrichor and thunders.
I garden. Connecting & grounding in the earth. Planting something edible that bypasses the system. Reminding myself I'm nature. Witnessing the regenerative processes of the garden ecosystem. Being.
Walk with my dog, especially in the early morning or evening. Strike up a conversation with a stranger - even if it’s a bit shallow, I can still feel care and connection. Cook without a plan, exploring ingredients from nature, and eat something nourishing. Spend time with art to peek into how another human sees, feels, perceives their world. Write letters to friends I can’t see in the flesh. Close my eyes and face the sun if I can find it.
I am going through a lot at the moment and appreciate all the people who mentioned the somatic nervous system and dorsal vagal nerve: I am working on this to increase my resilience and tap into my stuck emotions. Thanks all.
Weed keeps me grounded and lets me feel how stressed my body is, which can be hard to do when I'm numb. It also forces me into a state of relaxation. Singing helps a lot! Writing without judging myself, just letting the words flow without filter helps. Yoga is weekly form of maintenance for me. I'm getting to a point where running is more restorative then stressful, but I'm not quite there yet! Ranting to my friends also helps.