'it's hard times out there for everyone'

Welcome to What’s Helping Today, a newsletter about the everyday work of staying alive on earth — written by author and journalist Sandy Ernest Allen.

Hey all,

I’ve been relatively quiet lately I know … I have had a lot going on, a lot bad but not all bad. I went on a reporting trip last weekend that was very enlivening, a story I’m excited to share (amongst a few such stories I’m working on).

I was observing to someone I trust that my Buy Me a Coffee support has fallen steadily these last months, for reasons I could only guess at. On the other hand, I remain astounded at the volume of contributions I still do get — considering for example I’ve been caught up with what’s going on in my life, less attentive to this newsletter lately.

“it’s hard times out there for everyone” they replied “v cool ppl show up like this.”

I very much agree.

What’s Helping Today: Is a friend who texted me what’s helping today, yesterday …

Spring!! I sense it will soon arrive here, too, even though it was literally 1 degree out this morning and there’s still plenty of snow on the ground.

I appreciated this bit of optimism from my weather app today …

My main healer in the soul sense, the professional I work with, he was observing during our latest session that I’m in a period of loss, of letting go. And following any such time, there will be growth. After the phoenix’s fiery end, it will again rise from the ashes.

I can have trouble lately believing anything will ever get better — and I also know that this cannot be true. As Octavia E. Butler told us: the only constant in life is change.

Speaking of … I’m looking forward to starting my own first seeds, soon.

Just to mention again in case: I publish a monthly gardening-related column for the Catskill Crew newsletter. Subscribe over there if you don’t already. My next one will come out tomorrow and is on starting seeds …

Alright folks. What’s Helping Today? What seeds are you sowing this spring — metaphorically or literally? Feel free to reach out, I enjoy hearing from you …

Take care,
Sandy

Thanks for reading What’s Helping Today, a newsletter by me — author and journalist Sandy Ernest Allen. If you were forwarded this message, WHT is free; you can subscribe here. If you like my work: Please consider supporting me via my Buy Me a Coffee.