Not a to-do list

Helping Friendly Newsletter, 01.31.25

Every other Friday, I share 5 things to consider. On the Fridays between, I mix things up. This is a 5 Things Friday.

Safe havens: may we know them, may we be them, and may we share them freely.

GM! ☕️

The volume and intensity of online content is a lot right now. Thank you for choosing to spend this time with me. I’m grateful, and I’m so glad you are here. ♥️

Here are this fortnight’s 5 things to consider:

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1. I’ve been combing through “what now” reflections from activists, spiritual teachers, and artists. They write good words, yes, very good words—but there simply is no instruction manual for the present moment.

   And yet! (Thank god there is a “yet.”) I do see wisdom patterns emerging. These are not a to-do list, or heaven forbid a test, but rather a collection of signposts for the uncertain road ahead. They point to:

   *****
   
   acceptance without acquiescence;
   
   intention around attention; 
   
   feeling our grief; 
   
   tending our spirits; 
   
   doing the work that is ours (vs. trying to be everywhere);
   
   nourishing and resting;
   
   community care;
   
   embracing beauty and joy; and
   
   love without limit.
   
   *****

“remember the future is unwritten.” - adrienne maree brown

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2. Photographer Paul Kwilecki’s fascination with his hometown is a call to devotion and to discovery in our own backyards:

   “Decatur County is not exciting or glamorous, and any photographs you derive from it are not likely to make you rich and famous. The desire and energy to continue year after year come from seeing layer on layer of subject matter peeled back before your eyes, material you didn’t know existed until you penetrated the layer above. Eventually, you realize the supply is inexhaustible, a lesson in itself, and that how much of it you can exploit depends on your patience and skill.” —Paul Kwilecki (Bainbridge, Georgia)

   P.S. I was taken by Wendell Brock’s profile of Kwilecki in Bitter Southerner. After reading it, I beelined to A Long Arc: Photography and the American South at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, which included a small but stunning portrait by Kwilecki. The exhibition is closed now (sorry), but there’s always the book.

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3. If you like winter vibes, here is a collection of works that inspired last week’s story:

   

   Clockwise from top left:

   Wintering, Katherine May | “Starlings in Winter,” Mary Oliver | Winter Solstice, Nina MacLaughlin | Sounds of Sand Podcast, “Ancient Rhythms,” Pat McCabe & Francis Weller | “How to Savor Winter,” The Marginalian | “White Winter Hymnal,” Fleet Foxes

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4. Writing lesson:

   

   Graphic by Jen Hitze.

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5. FLOW may be the movie we all need right now. It is climate meets road trip, meets cat video, meets psychedelic fantasy, meets water, water, and yet more water. All without dialogue! The film was director Gints Zilbalodis’ first-ever project with a crew—a creative setup that is perfect for the story’s exploration of independence, collaboration, and belonging. Just incredible. I won’t be getting over this anytime soon.

   P.S. It’s worth seeing this visual gem in the theater if you can.

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ICYMI, last week I made you an illustrated story of real and metaphorical winter:

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Thank you for reading! This newsletter is a labor of love. 💌 To support it, you can upgrade to a paid subscription, share this post, or engage my services. You can learn more about my work at jenniferlphillips.com.

Peace,

Jenny

P.S. it’s been a week. you are cordially, rebelliously, lovingly invited to shake that booty👇🏼