I Can't Stop a War. But Here's What I Can Do.

I can write a book, hug my neighbor, and remind you that collective humanity is how we get through this.

Yesterday, while I was celebrating my nephew’s birthday at Disneyland, the president of my country publicly threatened killing a whole civilization.

My heart hurts.

I can't stop a war.
But I’m tired of feeling useless. So I’m making a list of what I can do.

I can write a book that expands empathy.
I can encourage you to use your voice.
I can hug my neighbor and feed her a meal when she gets home from a long shift at the hospital.
I can learn the names of the homeless people living in the park by my house.
I can buy a drink from the queer and immigrant owned coffee shops in my neighborhood.
I can host a two-hour picnic in the park with friends.
I can call my representatives.
I can remind friends to vote.
I can invite friends over to paint.
I can adamantly and vocally oppose the policies of this regime.
I can have conversations with people from the other side of the aisle helping us see the humanity in each other.
I can walk into a bathroom with a trans friend.
I can tell the queer and trans people I know in my life that I love and value them.
I can support immigrant organizations and give to GoFundMe's.
I can go to film festivals and cheer on local artists.

And I can take a moment, in the darkest of times, to remind you all that collective humanity is how we stop wars.

I can encourage you to tap into your creativity, participate in your communities, and interact with other people and cultures.

Because when we do, we don't sit by and let a president call for the full annihilation of a civilization.

If you need support figuring out what steps you can take, comment below or reply to this email and I'll help you find one that feels doable to you.

We’re all in this together.

So much love,

Lauren

P.S. Journaling helps me a lot in hard times like this, so my Journal Through It course is free right now with the code LOVE to help support you.

Also, here are some other posts that might feel supportive as well:

Empowering Change: Finding My Local Advocacy Path

🖌️ Creativity + community + stories = how we move forward

I Don’t Want to Talk About ICE