On Summing It Up, Volume Three

“To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness.”

— Howard Zinn

Notions & Contemplation

Dear friend,

Somehow, here we are again—another year of Notions & Contemplations in the books. Three years ago, I began this monthly ritual—writing down what I was noticing, questioning, wrestling with—with the hope that it might spark something useful for others, too. What started as a personal experiment has become a rhythm, a ritual, and, most of all, a privilege. Thank you for continuing to read, reply, and reflect with me.

As is now tradition, this month’s Notions is a look back at the past year, which has felt like a masterclass in incongruity: fire and equanimity, exhaustion and joy, truth and transformation. While each month’s newsletter is a single thread, together they stitch a portrait of our collective season—one shaped by contradiction, care, and the courage to keep going.

Whether you’ve read one edition of Notions & Contemplations or all 36, thank you for being on this ride with me. If something here resonates, please reply. If there’s a conversation you’d like to spark—in your workplace, on your team, or around your table—I’d love to help.

Here’s to curiosity, nuance, joy, and showing up—again and again.

Onward,

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On Fire & Equanimity (August 2024)

In a summer marked by literal and figurative fires, I propose equanimity as the emotional hazmat suit we need. Not detachment, but presence with boundaries. The kind of steadiness that fuels resilience.

On Transitions (September 2024)

I explore the inner work of change—not just what happens around us, but what must shift within us. I offer rituals to mark the in-between spaces, especially amid big identity shifts (hello, working motherhood).

On Action Over Despondence (October 2024)

Against the backdrop of hurricanes and electoral distrust, I have found oxygen in civic action. I make the case for each of us to take seriously the responsibility of citizenship–even the most skeptical among us. Voting is a form of hope made visible.

On Spiritual Guidance in a Political World (November 2024)

In memory of my teacher Atum O’Kane, I write about standing in the fire without being consumed. About anchoring in values, accessing the “deep heart,” and holding the center—personally and politically.

On Exhaustion & Joy (December 2024)

Tired? Absolutely. But not without sparks of satisfaction. I offer a round of applause (for you, for me, for us) and a short list of joyful things worth carrying into the new year.

On True Things (January 2025)

When the world feels untethered, I return to unchanging principles—like kindness, adaptability, and rest. We talk about creating space between stimulus and response, and choosing wisely what fills it.

On “Government Efficiency” & The Least of These (February 2025)

A defense of foreign aid—and moral leadership—rooted in both lived experience and spiritual conviction. Matthew 25 meets The State Department. Because compassion and efficiency are not mutually exclusive.

On Sandstorms & Bathwater (March 2025)

As backlash against “DEI” grows louder, I make a case for nuance, systems thinking, and long-term vision. The baby and the bathwater deserve better.

On Happy (April 2025)

A love letter to my grandmother and namesake, Happy—a woman whose faith, resilience, and pragmatism shaped my sense of what’s possible. Her legacy is a blueprint for joy in uncertain times.

On Banishing the Binary (May 2025)

In an age of polarization, I write about resisting either/or thinking. Conflict is inevitable; oversimplification is optional. There’s almost always a third way—if we’re willing to slow down and look.

On Curiosity as a Discipline (June 2025)

Curiosity, I argue, isn’t a whim—it’s a practice. A muscle. A way of being that transforms conflict and deepens connection. Especially when it’s inconvenient.