April 2020 Newsletter - Gratitude, Online Opportunities, and Love
Hello beautiful beings,
Welcome to April. I’m half an hour north of Austin with my whole poly family, feeling incredibly blessed that we are a tribe of folks working from home. Austin is also being blessed with some beautiful weather right now, which is allowing for some time outside, including finding these beautiful wild flowers on my last walk.
Am I concerned about income from having a number of teaching appearances canceled (both previously announced and one that had yet to be announced)? Yes. But this, compared to people I know who are still working in custodial services, folks who are working 80 hour weeks in hospitals as both providers and their support staff, individuals who are grocery clerks and first responders… I am incredibly blessed. I am so grateful to all of them.
Who are you feeling grateful for right now?
I’ve decided that each day I am reaching out to 2-4 people and checking in on them. Some are people I have not talked to in years. Some are close friends. But this time is giving me the perspective, from a new angle, how much can we all mean to each other on the planet. Reaching out to a co-worker may have them not feel as alone when in the hospital. Reaching out to a community member may have them not feel as isolated. Reaching out to a friend may remind them that though hugs are not available, hearts can be.
When you someone shares their story with you – listen. Don’t just listen, but bear witness and repeat back what you heard. It matters, Stephen Porges said it well when he said during an interview on countering the effects of social distancing:
"It's not a show and tell, it's a co-regulation. We have terms we use - mirroring or tuning or synchrony - but really its all about co-regulating. What you were emphasizing was to acknowledge ones own feelings. I would go a step further and that is to monitor and acknowledge the feelings of the one that you are talking to. So you are reaching out, literally, into their sphere, their consciousness, their nervous system, and you are really saying I'm present, I'm there with you."
- Stephen Porges: Countering the Effects of Social Distancing
Ms. Cenna and I are continuing this week with hosting 1-3 socials or discussions online. Today I am hosting a discussion from 3-4:30pm Central (1-2:30 Pacific, 4-5:30 Eastern) called What's Your Fetish? An Online Discussion. Sunday she will be hosting another Stitch & Bitch. For folks interested in staying tuned to these discussions feel free to join my Patreon to receive emails on each, follow me over on Facebook, keep an eye on my FetLife Page, or check out all of the amazing remote/virtual educational opportunities being listed on this FetLife Group.
At the end of this month I will be teaching a 2-day intensive April 24-25 with the Sexual Health Alliance called “Our Intimate Selves: Exploring Sex, Gender, Orientation, and Transgender Awareness.” Now being offered online worldwide, you can join for all 16 hours, or drop in for the 4-hour intensive (featuring interviews with trans community members) called “Beyond Pronouns: Tools for Allyship of Transgender and Gender Diverse Individuals.” Please go over to the websiteand check them both out!
I look forward to seeing folks in various spaces online, and after this all passed, in person as well. Much love to you all.
Yours in Passion and Soul,
Lee Harrington