Sunday Morning Content

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.

Hi all,

Doing another one of these. On a Sunday morning! Because why not! Trying stuff …

Hey guess what … AI … might be bad!!

As … more and more people are now realizing …

Helpful resource, if you want not see AI results when searching: https://tenbluelinks.org/

h/t to Rusty Foster. Speaking of, this was a Very Good Tabs:

Important: Tracking this administration’s obsessive cruelty towards LGBTQ people:

re: accountability tracking …

An older piece … crucial context to keep in mind in terms of the NYT’s contemporary transphobia and other unconscionable behavior:

A letter by Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg … whose writings I recommend …

I appreciate coverage like this (about terrible truths) …

And coverage like this (about a terrifying reality) …

Reminder, in case this needs saying, that history is repeating itself …

As history tends to do … depending on who or what you pay attention to.

Okay. BIG vibe shift … THIS was just fantastic:

My Bluesky followers also shared some of their favorite things they’ve read or listened to or watched recently, if you want to browse their suggestions … including some stuff I already love, like …

(I did recently touch on my love of the Parable of the Sower for example in this one.)

As for what I’m reading / watching / listening to … I just downloaded this audiobook …

I also highly recommend the Filthy Rich Netflix doc about Epstein, which I finished last night. Truly horrific shit … What monsters! Him and all of them, all those who participated in and enabled his crimes, through outright abetting or just turning away …

All much worse than even I would have imagined …

AND, for me, What’s Helping Today: Watching those women speak, the survivors in that doc. What utter fucking bravery.

To all abuse survivors: This is a deeply triggering time, news-wise. I’m sending us all extra strength and compassion. No pressure of course to watch this documentary: You do you. Of course. Take care of yourself, first and foremost right now — is my (unsolicited) advice.

And … FWIW … I personally have felt informed and fortified by watching these women share their stories. I personally find such acts inspiring. Given that I’m also someone who works up the courage to say hard stuff sometimes …

Given I’m out as trans adult and visible … Given my myriad identities and challenges. Given these times. Given my values, my talents, my strengths. Given my weaknesses, my toughest shit … Given the hardest stuff I still never say to anyone — except my closests connections, or my therapist-types or my journal-yelling page (at best).

To all others: I highly suggest you watch the doc. Sure, it’s unpleasant. But it gives insight into our society’s “normal,” meaning: How our culture protects abusive men, wealth, whiteness, privilege … And how this default setting begets such tragedy. Predictably. Typically unchecked … How it preys on people already neglected and abused.

Oftentimes I feel — and as my work often reflects — the least we can do is try to listen to those voices who typically go unheard.

Here again was Friday’s newsletter: “To Trans People Who Feel Despair.”

I’ve gotten some extremely lovely feedback about this one. Very grateful. 💕🏳️‍⚧️ 

I hope anyone who’s not yet read it will do so — and please, if you like it, I hope you’ll share it (widely) …

Here’s its older companion post, “To Cis People Who Feel Despair.”

Re-sharing (in case): My best advice for the worst days. My shorter, more general-purpose advice for shitty AF times … This older post, with my response to a cis mom worried about her trans (college aged) daughter. And this one, with my many thoughts for concerned adults who want to help vulnerable kids they know. And how much it did mean to me, those adults who did bother to try to connect with me, back when. Here again is my Esquire essay that shares some my own childhood.

Also helping today: This cover. (Perhaps obvious but, this whole album rules.)

Sending love,
Sandy

p.s. Once more: To literary nonfiction writers (memoirists/essayists and/or journalists) … Consider signing up for my fall writing workshop!

p.p.s. Otherwise, perhaps consider forwarding the class listing to any writers you may know who might be interested, or sharing on social media? … Thanks!!! Really appreciate you assisting in spreading word …

Thanks for reading What’s Helping Today! If you were forwarded this message, consider subscribing to WHT for free. If you want, you can tip me via my Buy Me a Coffee page, or even sign up to give monthly. I appreciate your support; thank you!