How is your haal?
Helping Friendly Newsletter, 09.03.2021
GM! ☕️
Here’s what you’ll find in today’s email:
Checking in
How is your haal?
Mapping the work
Abundant, inclusive self-care
Tiny book reviews
1. Checking in
I’m back from newsletter vacation.👋🏼
It has been a good break, and a hard time.
A pandemic, war, climate crises, regressive policies, and so much suffering. I know, I don’t really have to tell you.
Right now my heart is tender, a bit worked over, and trying to expand. I’ve missed this newsletter and feel grateful to return.
How are you?
2. How is your haal?
In many Muslim cultures, when you want to ask them how they’re doing, you ask: in Arabic, Kayf haal-ik? or, in Persian, Haal-e shomaa chetoreh? How is your haal?
What is this haal that you inquire about? It is the transient state of one’s heart. In reality, we ask, “How is your heart doing at this very moment, at this breath?” When I ask, “How are you?” that is really what I want to know.
I am not asking how many items are on your to-do list, nor asking how many items are in your inbox. I want to know how your heart is doing, at this very moment. Tell me. Tell me your heart is joyous, tell me your heart is aching, tell me your heart is sad, tell me your heart craves a human touch. Examine your own heart, explore your soul, and then tell me something about your heart and your soul.
—Omid Safi, “The Disease of Being Busy”
3. Mapping the work
There are many ways we can respond to the world. For those seeking to clarify and recommit, I recommend this change map, by Deepa Iyer at the Building Movement Project. You can find role definitions and a reflection guide here.
4. Abundant, inclusive self-care
“Self-care isn’t something to beg, borrow, steal, or even earn.”
5. Tiny book reviews
See my reviews and ratings for these books.
Walk-and-talk coaching
Walk-and-talk coaching will resume on September 13. These sessions are open to both in-person and phone clients on Mondays at 12pm and 1pm ET. They are a fantastic opportunity for inexpensive 1-on-1 support, with the bonus of extra movement in your day.
Thank you for reading
This newsletter is a labor of love. 💌 If you would like to show your support, you can forward to a friend, venmo me a coffee, or engage my services. If you’re seeing it for the first time, you can access the archive or subscribe here.
Thank you to HP for the ☕️ last month!
Treasure chest
I bet you find a gem ➔ do we have the space to grieve anymore?1 | how computer science became a boys club | what if people don’t want a career? | New York’s legendary literary hangouts | why do we need Dolly to be a saint? | celebrity is a mask that eats the face | the awkward thrill of socializing in 2021👇🏼
Have a great weekend, enjoy Labor Day, and, to my Jewish family and friends, l’shanah tovah! 💕 I’ll see you again soon.
Jenny
Via Anti-Racism Daily.