350 Comments

Your podcast emphasized “Joy” as the driving motivation. I truly take that message to heart. Incredible picture!

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The song ,JOY. .. theme of and sung by the Resistance Revival Chorus is the carrier of the need to find the joy in our daily lives in the middle of struggle .. they formed in NY after T was elected!… They sing for Joy..as a great “resistance “ oppression, hatred, ..lies, .. they sing all over the country.. have 80 members… beautiful harmony… like Sweet Honey and the in Rock music breaks down all barriers .

“🎶 tfhis joy that I have , the world didn’t give it , the world. can’t take it away!” … “ What the world needs now, is joy and resistance”… 🎵etc great best .. hear the whole group!..

We need our civil rights sounds again, sung all together!!❤️ look them up .. for Joy!

Take Care.

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While we're singing, let's hum along to Keb' Mo's "Put a Woman in Charge" song from five years ago!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FciQeRGYFlw

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Lynell, was lucky enough to see Keb’ Mo’ in a small venue “concert” many years ago in a small town (our county has a state college—the farthest northern one in CA—would draw touring performers that might not otherwise visit here)…I became a fan after seeing him perform.

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Lynell: It is catchy but SO apropos for these times!! I love listening & singing to it…

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Humboldt State in Arcata?

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Yeah, started attending school & working there back in 1969 when it was Humboldt State College, then became Humboldt State Univ, now is Cal Poly Humboldt….lol…I get tripped up on the name (old habits), so my friends (mostly former colleagues, now all retired from there) and I just call in “Humboldt”. Fabulous place to live….”behind the Redwood curtain”; the “big city” in the county is Eureka with less than 30,000 people. My town, Blue Lake, has about 1200. Arcata, where Cal Poly Humboldt is, has a population of about 19,000.

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I love California and would move back if I could afford it. Ordinary houses in San Jose are now going for $2.5 million, for example.

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Great performer

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Perfect, just not Ginni or her ilk

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Yeah, I thought of Kari Lake, too. Maybe not a good song the Dems should promote!

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She doesn’t qualify for human in my book

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Thank you so much, Susan! I'm now a new fan! The melody is "This little light of mine."

https://youtu.be/1TbDPwA09Bc?si=BxtsSckyvMcU98QZ

And you know what's really cool? Every once in a while, the world does present us with an event or reality that sparks that joy. After so many years of having to resist difficult feelings whenever I heard anything about Trump, I've felt such joy witnessing Kamala Harris claim her role as our candidate for president. It's a bonus for all the work to connect with inner joy during the tough times. Thanks again!!

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“Formed in NY after T was elected…” Who had any joy after T was elected besides the rich and the wannabe richers

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Thank you for educating us!

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My first thought of the picture was.....this is a painting. It works so perfectly.......By the way,

Stephanie Miller was reading your substack work on the air last week!! Your right up there now with Glen Kurshner...Malcolme Nance......Jen Kirkland.........you earned it.

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One of my favorite songs in the late 60s was "Lift Every Voice and Sing" .. Premiered in 1900, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" was communally sung within Black American communities, while the NAACP began to promote the hymn as a "Negro national anthem" in 1917 (with the term "Black national anthem" similarly used in the present day).

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We sing "Lift Every Voice and Sing" several times each year at All Saints-Pasadena. I've memorized the words to all 4 verses because they're so uplifting. From the first verse: "Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us." I'm singing a song of hope these days.

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Me too, Mary!

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This stunning photo says so much. It’s been a very rocky road and together we have reached new heights of awareness. Today we have a renewed vista and yes, we are seeing BLUE through the clouds. We still have much work to do and need you rested, Heather. 💙

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At Arches a couple of years ago I heard chanting (singing?) and saw a group of about 20 blind young adults walking briskly in formation. Each carried a white cane and had one hand on the shoulder of the person in front of them. Clearly they were all having a joyful time! I wished that they could see the majesty of the place. Then I realized that they were experiencing it fully in their own ways which I missed due to having sight.

The young woman leading the group was a spark and an organizing influence. I wondered who had developed the technique of walking safely in formation so that everyone could benefit and share the joy. It feels like a metaphor for our time.

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Heather you are the all time best. much of what makes this world so amazing. Thanks and Enjoy. I know a great spa for you when this is all over

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I do to but it’s in Santa Fe(I think it’s still there, that is).

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10,000 Waves? 🥰 we should all be so lucky

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Exactly! Lovely spot. Nice to know it’s still there. I was there in 2001.

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10,000 Waves 👍👍😎

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So great! Our world is appearing to have a brighter outlook lately! Praise us all for doing this great thing in the name of democracy.

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Thank you Buddy, thank you Heather for modeling Self-Care each week.

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I second that commotion. 🤭

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Such an amazing photo!

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Sleep well, you deserve it. Thank you for all that you do, and for the most welcome reminder. Tomorrow will be a brighter day.

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Love the photo, Utah the state where I was born... magnificent land. However, today is the day they move into the flagrantly wicked role of book banners. Shame on Utah.

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Waiting for them to ban "The Book of Mormon."

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that made me chuckle ~ thanks for that

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Did you know the Bible is the most banned book? Banning books is ridiculous - done by people who long for more control over others.

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Mormon's four sacred books are the Book of Mormon, the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, and the Bible.

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Ha, should but won’t. Lovely people but they defined cult even before chump made it de rigueur for so many “lovely people.”

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Lan, are you referring to the musical? We thought it was fantastic: hilarious yet respectful. (My husband worked for a Mormon-owned company for a couple years. He said the writers nailed the culture.)

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Mormon's four sacred books are the Book of Mormon, the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, and the Bible.

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The show?

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A wondrous world, full on many amazing people. To paraphrase the King Brothers, MLK and Rodney: why can’t we all just get along?

That’s the goal, at least for many of us.

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Yes, for many of us . . . many more of us that some of us think, I believe. I felt so drowned by all the negatives for a while. I consoled myself with the idea that just because the United States isn't perfect (-yet-), as a nation we have kept trying to make things better, to correct the events and attitudes. That we keep trying is the greatness.

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Maybe we should just relax and be...

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Bruce:

I'll think about relaxing after 6 November.

If then.

\Vince S

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Well yeah Vincent, in the election context you are absolutely right. My comment was directed at the sentiment that we might even be close to the greatest! Our ideals may be, but our execution sure ain't. So relax and BE great to achieve those ideals. And focus on BEING great by VOTING.

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Bruce:

I'll accept that! It reminds me of the advice on the cover of the famous Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy -- "Don't Panic!"

Still, there is much work to be done between now and November!

\Vince S

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Just think what earthlings could be capable of if our tribe included all of us.

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Now *that* stretches the imagination -- in a good way!

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I think of that often, so much talent and possibility.

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Some of us are so desperate to get *ahead* that getting along falls by the wayside.

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Aug 4·edited Aug 4

Excellent, says it all. Worthy of a tshirt

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I read your letters along with morning devotions...they both offer Hope. Thank you. Rest well ...we need you.

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I do the same, Bill. It's a good feeling.

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Alone with wonder

Embracing the world beyond

Heart full, gratitude

Open, alive, present

Welcoming magnificence

A moment in time

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OMG, we were in Utah in March/April this year, too. We did the Southwest excursion. I'm so glad we did it. It renewed my spirit in this wonderful country we live in, so with that and your letters, I'm still hanging on to that hope. Thank you.

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Peace out all, and stay well and strong.

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As of tonights LFAA there are 94 Days left -- We could be Heroes:

🎶 I ... I can remember

(I remember)

🎶 Standing by the Wall

(by the Wall)

🎶 And the guns shot above our heads

(over our heads)

🎶 And we kissed as though nothing could fall

(... nothing could fall)

[Chorus]

🎶 And the SHAME was on the other side

🎶 Oh, we can beat them forever & ever

🎶 Then we can be heroes

🎶 Just for 1 day ...

[Bridge]

🎶 We can be heroes

🎶 We can be heroes

🎶 We can be heroes, just for 1 day ...

That 1 day is November 5, 2024!

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Gorgeous! My first thought was of the Allegory of the Cave. You first and then the rest of us getting the first peek at our renewed (and no longer taken for granted) democracy…

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So much talent - the photographer & “model.” So much need to rest. Thank you.

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