Hi Community,
One of my favorite podcasts is Still Processing; a podcast featuring two NYT culture writers who try to understand the "pleasures and pathologies of America" in relation to TV, movies, art, music and the internet.
I always appreciate Wesley Morris and Jenna Wortham's perspectives on the world around us, but the first episode of their new season (which debuted this past week), spoke to our current situation in a way that deeply resonated with me.
When speaking to how COVID-19 is impacting her, Jenna says this experience is asking her to think about "who, [she], Jenna Wortham is in space and time, what are [her] deep moral imperatives, what are [her] priorities, who are the people [she] cares about, and who [she] can show up for right now."
She also explains that this moment "has sharpened what community means to [her]," and that the meaning of community, "is not a hashtag that we use online or a word that we throw around, but what it actually means to be there for someone in a time of need."
To this I say HELL YESSSSSSS, and then contrast with the book I'm currently reading, Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino.
In one of her essays, Jia writes about the story of the millennial generation through the lens of seven scams (Fyre Fest, the '08 recession, commercial feminism, Amazon, and the Trump presidency to name a few). One of the conclusions she draws is: "to get through [this era] without routinely descending into an emotional abyss—a person's best strategy is to think mostly of himself, herself."
That is the path we've been hurtling down over the past few years. One of independence, prioritizing ourselves over the collective, and making sure we come out on top. We see this in our current politics, the way we have stockpiled resources, and our undying devotion to capitalism.
But I am hopeful that this pandemic redefines what it means to be a community and how we show up for each other. The amount of good deeds and heartwarming acts of our local people give me hope that we still care about the greater good and are capable of stepping outside our own experiences—while still acknowledging the fact that we are not all having the same experience.
Below you'll find stories, resources, and information we've compiled to center the experiences of those hit hardest by the pandemic. We will also be donating a percentage of our profits to Seattle's COVID-19 Response Fund in addition to the percentage we are already donating from our virtual events.
Please continue to share things that we can spread the word about and reply back to share with me what community means to you during this time ❤️️
xo,
Hannah
Founder of Three Moon Collective
P.S. We are putting together a virtual gathering to support our local yoga community! If you are a yoga teacher or studio owner, please fill out this poll and share widely so we can figure out what topics to focus on and how best to support you.
