Dear Together Friends, Fans, and Family,
I HAVE A LOT OF THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS RIGHT NOW (and for the most part, they are unrelated to the mundanity of my broken dryer, my car hitting a snowcrete bank and sustaining damage, my kids being out of school for six days, and my cat having a bladder obstruction). Those things all seem small in light of the continued collapse of our nation / world / planet [waves hands in despair]. I’m sure you all have thoughts and feelings swirling right now too. And it probably goes without saying, but The Together Group stands with basic human rights – and, whether you have known me 25 years or 25 days, you likely know I’m the daughter of a deeply committed activist (more on that in the PS). The entire Together Team stands with Minnesota and other impacted areas, and there are loads of online resources and activists (favorites here and here) who share ideas to contribute to the greater good.
Anyway, like many semi-public figures (I mean, once I got recognized at the airport, which the Semi-Together Teens found hilarious) have been saying, it feels odd to release a newsletter at a time like this in our country. Especially a missive on planning or prioritization or protecting our time, especially when a school leader’s day looks like this (gift link) or a principal has to release a statement like this. But, while it can be very tempting – and certainly necessary – to clear the decks to focus on the here and now, I think there is also a need to play a long game (gift link) in service of our commitments.
So, in this month’s newsletter I ask us all to think about how to add activism to our calendars – in whatever way our personal circumstances allow.
What can I do DAILY? How can I make the world a better place in 5 minutes? Unseat Susan Collins in my home state of Maine, says Maia. But, seriously, if you are using the 5 Calls app, or flooding your government representatives with letters, make it a recurring daily event in your calendar and pick a time of day to get it done.
I’m making sure my home-state senator knows my thoughts.
What can I do WEEKLY? One of my dearest friends / bridesmaids / colleagues / TFA alum, Karn E, lives in Minneapolis, so I asked her about direct contributions. She gave me a link to the Build-A-Box being created at her son’s middle school, and between my close friends, neighbors, and the Together Universe on Instagram, we raised $1500 that will be converted to $50 Aldi gift cards and directly distributed to families from the school community.
The Build-a-Box program helps families in Minneapolis.
What can I do MONTHLY? I’ve had my recurring donations set up for several years for Planned Parenthood, Washington DC Public Radio, and Girls on the Run. The amounts are not giant, but they are automated, so I can ensure they happen without friction. If you are in a position to financially contribute, recurring donations can be helpful – for you and for the recipient.
What can I do ANNUALLY? I was very compelled by this editorial (gift link), and I’ve sent in applications to be a poll worker in November in two different counties in Maryland. While the mid-term elections feel a long way off, they’ll be here before we know it. If you complete an application to work / observe the polls by Friday, February 13, and send proof / receipt to The Together Group, we will enter you in a drawing to receive a Together Text of your choice or a 30-minute Togetherness chat with me. Obviously, we don’t need extrinsic motivation for stuff like this, but I do like a community effort. Can we get 100 of you readers to volunteer your time?
I don’t really know how to end a letter like this, but in this American Winter (gift link), I am wishing everyone peace, love, and rest – and a burst of energy and focus to calendar-up or list-make your resistance moves. Happy Valentine’s Day! I couldn’t resist a little whimsy to lighten the mood, so here is my bird collection.
#togetherforever #clipboardsandclogs
Maia
PS On a really personal note, I channel my late father (he passed away suddenly in 2018) often in times of global tumult, and I really wish I had taken the time to write out his stories of being a Freedom Rider, being involved in Boston school desegregation efforts, and his multiple arrests trying to secure voting rights for others. My dad dropped out of college to pursue these efforts, and never returned to complete his degree, but then made a living as a beer truck driver, frequent poker player (oh wait, that didn’t help him make a living!) and eventually in a unionized paper mill worker where, in addition to mixing dyes out on the factory floor, he fought for health insurance for the workers. Anyway, I’m taking a personal essay writing class this spring, so you may find my newsletters infused with a few little tales like this.
PPS Why a personal essay class, you may wonder? I have stories to tell, people. Anyone interested in reading some of the personal experiments? I may pop over to Patreon or Substack with a few at some point.
PPPS If you need a pick-me-up or have a young person in your life who loves Dog Man or Captain Underpants, check out this article about Dav Pilkey and why he resonates with young readers.
- Schedule an admin night for tedious tasks. We all know what happens when there’s a boring task we don’t want to do – we procrastinate. But group admin nights (a form of body doubling) are becoming more popular, with friends gathering to make life’s To-do lists a little less tedious. Any interest in The Together Group hosting a virtual admin hour? Write us here!
- Oh look! A squirrel! I kid, but many of our attention spans are not what they used to be. If you’d like to change that, you can train your brain to reduce distractions and regain your focus. Come chime in with us and let us know if you have any attention tools or tricks to share!
- Life with no clocks on the Arctic Circle? I bookmarked this one (gift link) over the holidays, and came back to re-read it this month. I found the distinction between “clock-timers” and “event-timers” to be utterly fascinating, and it connects to some of our work on “What-ers and When-ers.” I know that for me, during the work week, I’m more naturally a “clock-timer” and on the weekend (when I can get away with it), I prefer to be an “event-timer.”
