🎂 Lil Treasures #69: Birthdays and Getting Out of Slumps
Plus Harry Styles as book covers, Erika made us a mixtape, and more!
Well, hello there friends.
The fam and I escaped to north Georgia for spring break and it was a joy to have treasures that mainly consisted of roasting marshmallows and breaking up pool fights while I read a book. This was a good week to be mostly offline as once I returned, reality hit hard with news about Atlanta and the border crisis and Boulder, as well as an enormous tornado that knocked out several neighborhoods in Birmingham. Of course, I had every intention of answering some questions but everything feels so heavy, and I shelved them, hopefully for next week.
I know some of us are in a slump that seems unending. The internet is full of excellent advice about how to manage yourself in these times, but if I’m honest, it feels like these days are more about coping than the small moments of normalcy we’re afforded before another tragedy takes over the news cycle and/or our lives.
Tomorrow is my birthday and if I’ve learned anything over the past year, it’s that when I feel stuck or stymied, one remedy is to help other people in whatever way I can. If you’re feeling the same way and you’re able, I would love for you to peruse We Got You Club or make a donation to your favorite non-profit (mine is Amarillo Angels, if you’re looking for ideas). Or maybe you want to make a pie for your neighbor or become a mentor or sign a petition (I recommend this one, aimed at keeping the Homestead Detention Center closed) or write a note to someone who has impacted you or call your senator. Even something small will not only push against the overwhelming tide of darkness in the world, but it will push against the same tide threatening to overwhelm you. And even if it doesn’t, it WILL help someone else. And sometimes, that’s all we can ask for.
Thank you for all the ways you’ve bouyed me and cared for me in this space this year. I hope you’ve felt the same care and sense of community here. I’m truly honored that you allow me space in your inbox. I do not take it lightly!
This Week’s (Online) Treasures
📄 To be honest, I feel like I’ve been drop-kicked in the heart after the tragedies this week in both Atlanta and Boulder. It’s difficult to try to understand. This article (specifically about the shootings in Atlanta) was a guiding light for me in my attempt to process what happened. Should you be looking for a wise voice in the debate about gun violence, I can full-throatedly recommend Taylor Schumann’s book (available for pre-order now) When Thoughts and Prayers Aren’t Enough. I haven’t read this book, but after following and learning from Taylor for the past few years, I guarantee it will be a gracious and thoughtful treatise.
🤲 We talked about Sarah Quezada a few weeks ago, and I recently discovered her account @womenofwelcome. A lot of really incredible resources around immigration, how to act and pray and advocate for immigrants and refugees.
🍉 Highly recommend this thread of Harry Styles as 2021 book covers.
🎙️ I really enjoyed this episode of the Sacred Ordinary Days podcast with guest Dr. Barbara Peacock, author of Soul Care in African American Practice. Dr. Peacock discussed the importance of sabbath and lament in our lives, among other important topics, and how the practice of “soul care” in the black community helped encourage spiritual disciplines in her life. If you have some time this week (specifically for all you spring breakers) I would highly encourage that you add it to your listening list.
🌞 This post with behind-the-scenes photos of the filming of Teletubbies is fascinating.
🎧 Our dearest Erika combed through the comments from last week’s newsletter and put together this mixtape with all of your submissions. Thank you Erika!
🛸 Put this on that golden record we sent into space in case there are aliens.
💉 In other treasure news, my dear friend (and Cy’s godfather) Drew snagged me a PRIMO vaccine appointment for next week and I can hardly believe it’s real. Gonna sing this at the top of my lungs that day and I’m definitely sending Drew a fruit basket.
Tweets and Treasures
Twitter is where the Best Beths shine.
That’s it for this week, pals. Take care of yourself, take care of your people, and remember that all people is your people.
Some of the links here are affiliate links, which means that you support The Swipe Up at no extra charge to your own self when you buy from them. It makes Ben Moon really happy when you do this, so thanks in advance.
Wishing you a very happy and hopefully peaceful birthday! Your content, on PMG platforms, here and currently Momento Mori, is truly some of the best stuff in my life right now
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Erin and all the Lil Swipes celebrating birthdays this month! Y’all are amazingly awesome people!