in the last month...
...a lot of things have happened, collectively.
This love note has 2 parts:
~ Some reflections on the state of the world.
~ Some updates on Still Moving.
Before I get into those reflections about the world, I need to give some personal context. The last few weeks have been surreal and sleepy. Just over a month ago, I self-published Still Moving, my memoir about my first 3 years of Long Covid. It's been deeply gratifying, more so than I expected. The last few years collectively have been rough, and if you read the book you know that the last few years for me have been fucking terrible. Offering this book to the world has brought ease I've never before encountered.
The surreal part is having this ease and support and encouragement, all amidst a genocide, amidst ongoing hate crimes in my own country. Violence that so many people are ignoring. Which I find disappointing.
I am not one of those people. I find all of this violence devastating and heartbreaking. Liberation is collective. We belong to each other and we heal together.
I support a permanent ceasefire and sovereignty for all people.
Beyond that, though, I don't actually have a lot to say. Not because I don't care, but because I don't see the need to add my voice to the conversation. We live in the age of the internet, so there are plenty of resources and suggestions and education and leaders to guide you through whatever you care to know.
For my part, I want to listen. I want to amplify those who are directly affected, whose leadership is needed.
(My amplification efforts are mostly via my IG stories, if you're curious.)
I prefer for my voice to show up where my perspective is needed. Which is why I wrote a whole book about my first 3 years of Long Covid.
Though if you heed the internet marketing experts, I've lost a month's worth of days in not promoting my book.
But I've actually deeply enjoyed this last month of listening to my readers. I am so fortunate that the very first reader who shared her experience of the book was so thoughtful. Her reflections made the whole effort worthwhile, already. I am deeply grateful, for her and others who have shared.
I do plan to join the conversation. Of course, I have thoughts about the most important moments, the most profound themes.
I like getting an author's perspective, but as a reader I'm also reluctant for the author's ideas to influence my experience of a book. The author's perspective has many of the deepest insights. The author's perspective is also the strongest bias.
So, I'm not in a hurry. In this liminal time of me not proclaiming my most important things about my book, I'm happy to listen to readers.
In this time of non-promotion, I'm very appreciative of those who've purchased Still Moving in this first month. As such, I want to do something-to-be-determined to show my appreciation. So far I've thought of a virtual gathering, where I could play a sound journey or do a Q&A about the book. Or lead a writing circle. Are any of those appealing? Feel free to reply and let me know.
(If none are appealing, you're welcome to reply with something like "I appreciate the sentiment, but none of those options are interesting to me." That's super helpful feedback.)
For now, I'm going to continue resting and tuning into the world. Tending my altars. Singing to the trees. In the new year, I imagine I'll have a bit more to say.
In these fraught times, I hope you don't ignore what's going on. I hope you tap into your compassion. I hope you take exquisite care of yourself, your heart, your tenderness. I hope you recognize that liberation is collective. That we belong to each other and we heal together.
With care,
S.
---
skyeris.art
she / they
IG