Stoking a Summer Slow Down

In Real Life

It's already past the solstice, and for those living in the northern latitudes, the longest day of the year is already behind us.

Everything I said in the previous sentence is probably wrong and based on the cultural construct of northern-hemisphere speak. I think a lot about language, how it is a survival tool, and how it can be a weapon. Language is potent and has ensnared people across generations, causing harm to many. Looking around and experiencing today's world, one can get tempest-tossed into a sea of anxiety and worry (primal feelings). These emotions cause us to react, and we often regret some of those reactions. Consequences follow, like it or not, and we are responsible for our flung words or bodies even if we deny our responsibility.

If a word burns on your tongue, let it be. (Persian proverb)

I want to cease the harm—I want to shed light on the humanity of every person—every person's worth. We are all starlight turned into flesh, living on this perfectly imperfect earth, and we will be recycled into the planet, regardless of how deep our avoidance of our mortality goes. This life is brief after all. That said, we must take time to honor who we are and acknowledge the beauty and unique spirit in every one we meet.

Thus, I urge you to slow down. It's time to savor dawn. When you wake up, the purr of the cat on your back in the wee hours of the morning—the beautiful fingerprint of your breath—is not to be taken for granted. I woke this morning to a chaotic, humming beauty. I cannot wish away the horror and pain many of us face and may face in the future. But I will not let other beings control my sense of self, being, and joy. I hope this for you as well.

When you get overwrought, get a little closer to water: a pond, a pool, the seashore, or even your shower. Water calms the nervous system. Go to the water and remember: We have made it through all the difficult times before this moment, and while we cannot know the outcome, we can make it through this moment.

When I get overwhelmed, I think about my grandmother, an immigrant to this country in 1924, who was put in kindergarten at age 14 due to her inability to speak English. In addition to being punished for being an immigrant, she made it through the Great Depression by foraging for dandelion greens by railroad tracks when the block of cheese handouts from the government couldn't sustain the family. She worked in an airplane factory during World War II, and lived in a town that had to 'pay' for mob protection whenever the boss entered the family store.

If my grandmother could endure these difficult times, we can, too. We are stronger than we think. But to reclaim our courage and strength, we must slow our pace; everything moves too fast, and our brains haven't caught up. I love this great article by Brian Klaas on how everything has sped up over the last several hundred years.

Let's pause for a moment and view this stream. Imagine the cool waters rushing over your toes.

Other Natural Beauties to Consider

If you are wondering what I am up to besides slowing down and thinking about all the ways to reclaim peace, I have been writing, reading, and teaching my heart out. I am also obsessed with the physical ruins of the Roman Empire and what the stones are trying to tell us about the ends of things. The past as a mirror. But that's me. I want to make sense of patterns and tell stories of stones and trees that gave up their lives for human buildings, books, and art.

My younger son recently had a chance to visit a museum with friends, something that I did frequently as a teenager, but this was his first time. As an artsy adolescent, I would spend hours looking at art that pleased my senses. Some art is so pleasing that I can feel my shoulders relax and my breathing slow. The works of the Italian 18th-century painter, Canaletto, have this effect on me. I think it is the way light is a protagonist in the painting. The image below is for reference, but there is nothing like seeing the real thing, which reminds me. Do real-life things like viewing art. If you can't view art, maybe do a puzzle, get a box of colored pencils, and do a coloring page. More importantly, do these things in person with a friend or family member. That's where the magic happens. That's where we remember our humanity.

Time for (long) Reading 📚

I didn't take a picture of my book pile/haul this summer. It is approximately the same tall pile of reads I post every year, with the number of books being aspirational. I never get through all the books each short summer, but it is important for me to have enough choices. I hop from book to book and test my mood and feelings on fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.

I argue that reading (or listening to) a whole book is a form of slowing down. It's a form of attention that many say is slipping from our practice. To read an entire novel, memoir, or non-fiction book is to plant yourself firmly in a story or point of view and pay attention. It is a form of sovereignty.

I am reading and enjoying FLUKE: a riveting introduction and excellent story about the seemingly random flukes that alter history. I love a good discussion about 'random' happenings.

I was gifted a book of poetry by Salim Barakat, The Universe All at Once (translated by Huda J Fakhreddine), and I am skipping through it backwards and forwards. I ordered a book of poetry by Kevin Prufer, The Fears. It was suggested to me since I have been obsessing about ancient Rome. I will be diving into that soon. Research and poetry are always good.

I always have time for cosy fantasies because escaping from reality is needed occasionally. If you need a list, I have got you. Cozy fantasies are fun, adventurous, postmodern-medieval. There are also other kinds of fantasy novels: dark academia and grimdark. I have reported on Babel before, and I will share again. This novel by R.F. Kuang is outstanding and prescient for our current time.

My son bought me the new Joe Abercrombie novel, The Devils, and I can't wait to read it. His character writing skills are on point.

Another friend gifted me the Ministry of Time, and I am intrigued. There are plenty of books on my bedside stand, and there will be more over time.

Wendy Ortiz has just re-released Excavation, a vital memoir I have read. She has also re-released two other books, which you can find at Northwestern University Press. Wendy's work and writing have indelibly impacted my thinking and writing over the last two decades. If you don't know her work, check it out.

I am so grateful for the world of words and the writers who have put them to the page and spent the painstaking process of re-writing, editing, and word-smithing. As I mentioned, I think a lot about language these days. In part, it is because I love words and have an anthropologist's heart, but also because my partner is losing his ability to think in language and use it. And while our humanity isn't all stored in words, our words are powerful indicators of who we want to be, who we are. Use your words wisely.

Go slowly this summer. Be thoughtful, kind, and help others. Sigh at whatever beauty brings joy to your heart. Read for a spell.

Sending love to each of you on this little earth in the middle of the great big universe. 💗

Be well,

Bridget