Friends,
It's been a long time since I've written - really written anything at all. I think like many of you I'm pretty tired. This has been a long 7 months for all of us and I just have not been in the mental space to create anything new. I've been lagging on podcasting, writing and really any creative project whatsoever. This is my attempt to get things off the ground a bit.
First off, I rarely plug anything in the newsletter, but my good friend Jessica Alter started a really cool organization called Tech For Campaigns. I am on the hosting committee for a virtual event she is hosting with Mayor Pete Buttigieg and South Carolina Representative JA Moore, who was motivated to run for office when he lost his sister in the Emanuel AME Church Massacre in 2015. If you can join, I'd be grateful - no $ required - just a cool event to attend and be inspired by. It's on Oct. 14th at 12pm PT | 3pm ET- hope you can make it!
Second, I kind of just wanted to see how everyone is doing. So how are you doing? If you're feeling any of the following, I assure you you are not alone:
Concerned for family/loved ones
More tired on weekends
Fatigued from the never ending news cycle
Anxious constantly - especially after reading Twitter
Sad for people who are being affected disproportionately economically right now
Sad for people affected by systemic racism in the wake of the George Floyd and Breonna Taylor murders
Concerned for frontline workers
Able to think of big projects, but unable to execute
Needing free time from kids
Sick of the fires/wanting to do something positive for climate change (particularly if you're in CA, OR, or WA) but feeling helpless to do anything about it
Fatigued from Zoom calls
Not exercising enough
Wanting to travel
Too much watching/screen time
General exhaustion
In many ways, Covid has really been the ultimate mental test for all of us. And to all my friends out there who follow this - you are doing great. This is really a difficult time, and every day that you get up and support those around you is a victory. I'm a huge optimist and believer in human resiliency, and I believe we will get through this and be better off for it.
This is my attempt at getting back into writing and accomplishing *something*, however small today. I hope you are safe, healthy, and appreciate you taking the time to read this on another Sunday in 2020.
Sunil