I no longer celebrate the traditional Thanksgiving based on the fairy tail about the pilgrims and the “Indians.” Like many, I've come to see it as the whitewashing of an ugly time in the history of the nation.
Instead, I use the day as a time to focus extra hard on gratitude. I'm guessing most people actually just do that without even realizing it and are also not really still celebrating an alleged chummy dinner that may or may not have happened.
If I'm lucky, I get to have dinner with other humans on Thanksgiving, but it doesn't turn out that way every year. I was invited to a Friendsgiving that would've happened last night, but I wasn't feeling great, so I skipped it. I was bummed, but it's OK.
I do love holidays, but I try not to get too attached to them since I'm single, live alone, and don't live near family.
Here are some things I'm thankful for:
My health and access to healthcare
My safe and comfortable apartment
The love of Libby 🐈
Healthy, safe food to eat and water to drink
The professional skills I've honed
A safe, beautiful neighborhood
Enough people in the country interested in democracy that we still (kind of) have one
My nonconformist tendencies that keep me from getting sucked into many unhealthy trends and aspects of capitalism
📑 Project Updates
The Hugmobile
I spent two hours yesterday giving strangers (and a few friends) warm, heartfelt hugs at the annual Shopapalooza market/ festival. It's a large outdoor market held in a grassy park right on the bay in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida.
I hugged a lot of folks, and due to poor planning, I actually ran out of my “I hugged Quirky Hug Lady” stickers, which everyone seemed to love. So, I switched to giving out my larger “More Hugs Pleez” stickers.
What I love about the “I hugged Quirky Hug Lady” stickers is that many people stick them on their shirt right away, and then they act as advertising for me throughout the event.
I'm back at it today (Sunday) from 1-3 pm if you're in the area. It's at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg.
I'm not selling my Postcard Hugs at this event, but my sticker has a QR code where folks can find the website and more about what I'm doing.
🌻 One Positive Thing
Although it is thus far very temporary, there is a pause in Israel's bombing of Gaza. After more than 40 days, Palestinians can breathe and live for a few days. They can search for lost family and retrieve belongings from their home… and see if they still have a home.
⏰️ Currently
📑 Working on getting all my classwork done by midnight on Tuesday. I have to put together slides for a PechaKucha presentation and then record audio for the final presentation. Here's a taste of my process:
This is a shorter post because this class is so demanding.