“I am more and more convinced that in the life of civilizations as in the lives of individuals too much matter that cannot be digested, too much experience that has not been imagined and probed and understood, ends in total rejection of everything—ends in anomie.* The structures break down and there is nothing to “hold onto.”

It is understandable that at such times religious fanatics arise and the fundamentalists rise up in fury. Hatred rather than love dominates.

How does one handle it? The greatest danger, as I see it in myself, is the danger of withdrawal into private worlds. We have to keep the channels in ourselves open to pain. At the same time it is essential that true joys be experienced, that the sunrise not leave us unmoved, for civilization depends on the true joys, all those that have nothing to do with money or affluence—nature, the arts, human love. Maybe that is why the pandas in the London Zoo brought me back to poetry for the first time in two years.”

~May  Sarton

Nov. 18th 1974

*I had to look this up…

“Social instability caused by erosion of standards and values.”

…although perhaps there should be, to honor the poet who was so brutally killed a few days ago. What I mean by it, really, is that I won’t be writing today with an eye towards beauty or lyricism. I am here because I don’t really know where else to go…what else to do…other than create something that can be one of the innumerable threads in the world that can weave people together…people who need that togetherness.

I’ve looked and looked and haven’t been able to find it deeply or for long, but what I have found and what has helped I want to start sharing here. And eventually, make this a storehouse for like-minded souls, or at least, a supportive haven.

When a friend and I were texting yesterday, mourning together the murder of Renee Good, my friend said that one of the videos caught Renee’s wife saying “I don’t know what to do!” Unimaginable, the circumstances that brought out her cry. But I have felt the same, in a different and my own way, over and over again, for the past year. If you feel the same, let’s talk about what to begin to do, shall we? In the comments, simple old-school style. And please let me know if anything about my comment box makes it burdensome to comment. I can’t figure that out by myself, but even something as simple as making commenting easier than it is in many places feels like a “fist to the man” which is what I wanting to get way more comfortable doing.

Here is what I want to share today. I will share all of my resources soon, but this gave me such hope and clarity this morning, listening to it in bed as the sheltering rain came down, pillowed and blanketed, safe, and wondering what to do next…

(click to watch)