This has become kind of a mantra of mine. Whoever told you that you ain’t that bad bitch, you need to tell that person to shut the &$%# up… even if that person is yourself. Lizzo
Category: The Spirit
The Three Purposes of Community
Someone said that true communities served 3 basic needs: to welcome and appreciate you, to help when you are sick or in need, and to remember you when you are gone. It came to me today at Quaker Meeting that these are also things that drive us to seek a life partner. (“In sickness and…
Celebrating My Strengths: Five Things I’m Good At
There’s a lot of dark forces in the world that want you to feel powerless to change anything. And often they are in our own heads. I’m trying to lean more into the things I think that are my strengths — to acknowledge them, build on them, and share them where needed. This is not…
Unlocking Myself at the Skating Rink
I started roller-skating because I missed dancing. But it might be making me a better person. Because of the pandemic, all of my usual outlets for social dancing were suddenly closed to me. No lindy hopping on Thursdays at 9:20. No late night clubbing at New Parish. No dance classes, no street parties, no music…
Sipping Cocoa Solo at the Fairmont Hotel
So I had just come from seeing the really wonderful new Spider-man movie in downtown SF and was about to head home. But then I thought it would be a splendid end of the night to visit the massive gingerbread house at the Fairmont Hotel and enjoy a hot cocoa. I headed over to the…
Psalm for the Wild-Built (Becky Chambers)
I just finishing Psalm for the Wild-Built. Such a beautiful, sweet, hopeful, and funny bit of sci-fi from the amazing Becky Chambers. Another one of her books where basically nothing happens. And yet I couldn’t stop reading it, except when I had to put it own to laugh or think about stuff brought up by…
Jesus on Performative Activism
Jesus had a thing or two to say about performative activism. I’m not a Christian in the formal sense. But there’s a lot in this quote to think about. Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your…
Stopping Bedside Social Media: So Hard!
I have a confession to make: I do a lot of social media surfing in bed. Particularly right before falling asleep and when waking up. For the past couple of weeks I’ve practiced restraining myself from social media surfing when in bed. I’m embarrassed to say that it’s been pretty hard. Just lying there at…
Riki: My new / old name
Several months ago, I started going by “Riki” instead of “Rik.” It began almost subconsciously as I was meeting new people at the skating rink. I didn’t know why I was suddenly introducing myself as “Riki” but I just went with it. Slowly I started expanding this practice, and now in informal settings, it’s just…
On Being Lost and Listening to Your Gut
So yesterday I was visiting with some family in another city. I borrowed a car since it was pretty far away. As I was getting ready to go back home, I told my phone to give me directions. At least that’s what I thought I did. First thing my phone tells me to do is…