Links: Hope and action

[sonia]

Despair is Not a Strategy: 15 principles of hope by Abby Brockman. Lots of quotes from "Hope in the Dark" by Rebecca Solnit, which I read 8 years ago and should probably re-read. Also,

Professor and activist Howard Zinn writes: “The struggle for justice should never be abandoned because of the apparent overwhelming power of those who have the guns and the money and who seem invincible in their determination to hold onto it. That apparent power has, again and again, proved vulnerable to moral fervor, determination, unity, organization, sacrifice, wit, ingenuity, courage, and patience.”

Things Born of Mindfulness. "Every year in my community we draw a name from a hat at the beginning of May and then have six weeks till the winter solstice to hand make a gift."

How to delete your Facebook account by Barbara Krasnoff and Micah Singleton, updated Jan 9, 2025. I hadn't logged in for a couple of years. I went in to download my data (not much there) and got shown posts by people I care about. Tugging on the heartstrings. But I'm choosing being less connected to them over supporting fascism, and went through with deleting my account.

My American Dream is in Mexico: Alan Chazaro by Rocio Lucero, December 22, 2024. Lovely story and photographs.

Alan Chazaro made the bold decision to leave behind his vibrant network and life in the San Francisco Bay Area to embrace a quieter existence in Xalapa, Veracruz. For Alan and his family, the move wasn’t just a change of scenery — it was an intentional step toward grounding his young son in the linguistic, social, and cultural richness of Mexico.

Professor Sir Ludwig Guttmann at the National Paralympic Heritage Trust site, via jesse_the_k in a comment somewhere.

"If I could say anything to Sir Ludwig it would be, “Thank you”… Before he did his rehab work at Stoke Mandeville, if you broke your back or your neck you were just left in hospital to die; it was that simple." -- Tanni Grey-Thompson, Paralympian

Breaking the Cycle: Redefining Fatness in the World of Cycling by Nora Andrews. A fat-positive exploration of the barriers a fat cyclist encounters and support for getting out there anyway.

These experiences underscore the pervasive impact of weight stigma, which can shape the way fat cyclists are perceived and the way they perceive themselves. Even in inclusive environments, cultural narratives that equate body size or physical ability with worth create barriers to participation, confidence, and access to the joy of cycling. When we falsely equate thinness with health, we deny people the opportunity to live fulfilling, truly healthy lives. The experiences fat individuals have in athletic spaces push many to exercise in isolation—or avoid it altogether. Internalized fatphobia not only limits opportunities for enjoyment and wellness but also has been proven to increase stress and cortisol levels, contributing to health issues that are frequently misattributed to fatness rather than the stigma itself.

The disasters we already experience by Audrey Eschright. Friendly tips for putting together a go bag. I'm leaving it open in my browser as a motivation to do that myself, although the thought of evacuating with bike, trailer, and cat in a carrier is scary.

Comments

[liv]

The Guttmann link, wow. I knew he was really really significant in rehab of SI patients, but I did not know that before his innovations people were literally left to die. My brother recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of a high-level spinal injury, and even today that's quite a bit better than average life expectancy for people with his level of disability. But it's that pull-quote just completely knocked the wind out of me. Thank you for passing it on.

[sonia]

I'm so glad to hear your brother has done well (and sorry to hear about the past injury). I wasn't aware of Guttman's effect on the field either! I've read biographies of people with spinal injuries, and that wasn't part of the narrative. Good to remember that a single determined person can inspire others to join in and make huge changes for so many people.

[jesse_the_k]

another element of Guttman's approach was developing a peer community for rehabilitation: this approach helps support lasting changes.

[sabotabby]

I admire you for reading disaster preparedness stuff. At the moment my brain is glancing off it. I keep thinking about losing everything and I go into a panic cycle.

[sonia]

I agree, it feels overwhelming. I'm pretty much bouncing off too, but I'm hoping that eventually I'll happen to see that tab when I feel able to take a step forward.

[ofearthandstars]

Thank you for the first link, it is helpful to think of hope over the long term.

I deleted Threads and IG (which was 15 years old) yesterday. I am working on phasing off FB, just trying to figure out where else to connect with others. I'm working to remain signed out except for conveying new "where to find each other" information, with the goal/hope to delete after some time. It is hard in some ways given the local support groups that have been built there.

[sonia]

Step by step! I know I've missed out on a lot of group events and communities because they only post on FB, and it's harder to walk away from them than to never have joined in the first place.

[silveradept]

An excellent set of links. Remembering how many other ways there are of helping yourself out and in making forward movement, even if it doesn't immediately translate into progress, is useful when you're also looking at all the impediments being thrown up in your way.

[sonia]

Glad you enjoyed them, and thanks for including some of them in your roundup!