Big Care and Pit Stains

Naming what's working

Happy new year!

Just kidding—it’s so damn bleak out here (made even more so on my end by accidentally watching this TED talk on societal collapse shared by Ann Friedman last week; if you watch it too, drop me a note below and let’s virtual-hug in the comments).

Basically:

I’m taking suggestions for woods to run off to, and family-friendly covens to join.

Photo by Sebastian Unrau on Unsplash

But while we’re still here—I mean here showing up for our somehow-still-responsible-for-mundane-tasks lives, and here for our relationships, and here for our actual human bodies that know joy and need it—I’m inspired to start a fresh project with this Substack.

Because we ARE still here, and we ARE needing to show up.

To love the little people we made and the big ones we chose to walk home with. Show up at work to make as much meaning out of it as possible. Show up for our beaten but still-beating spirits. Show up for this world that needs us, all big care and pit stains.

To make a dent with our heart and our art. With our choices. With our voices.

So what’s the fresh project?

I’m going to experiment with bringing over here short clips of cultural heroism out loud. Moments that pop. Folks who say the damn thing and we all hear it.

And I’ll help interpret why it’s moving us so—and how, exactly.

That’s the work of “how to show up.” It always has been. It’s just there are eras for philosophical flights of fancy. And eras for let’s just fucking name what’s working.

I think we’re in the latter era at this moment—yes?

Let’s call it The Care Project.

And you’re a part of it. PLEASE SEND ME WHAT YOU SEE:

Send me anyone who you catch online just WOW showing up. That political hopeful or citizen or artist with an award speech that says what we all feel.

Who cares, out loud.

You can DM me with a link here on Substack if you’re reading in the app, or hit reply to this email if you’re reading in your inbox. Tag me on Instagram or DM me there with a video you want us to see.

Folks who light you up. Who really make the most of their moment.

Folks doing the sacred work of showing up.

It’s not an intellectual thing; it’s a feeling it thing. When you know you know.

Other changes: this Substack has gone free—so no paywalls anywhere and no private group gatherings for paying folks only (hi, and love! Send me videos that move you!).

It’s what feels right for right now.

We need all the democracy we can get.

So much love and fortitude,

Samara

PS. If you want to participate beyond The Care Project, check out this LinkedIn post I write about my upcoming TEDx!! And give me your hot take on title and visuals :)