THE HUNGRY PERSON . . .
dreams. The starving person acts.

If the past few months have made us hungry for connection, the past few weeks have made us starving for it. Tensions and emotions are running so high that it's often impossible to tell whose side anyone is on. In fact, choosing sides seems pointless when everyone is starving to be heard.

Effective communication - voicing your own thoughts AND listening to others - takes time and practice. Last week, we spoke out when we felt we needed to most, and we listened to a lot of responses. Your feedback continually challenges us to re-concentrate our efforts and continue to practice generosity in our communication and our communities.

In particular, we heard from an undocumented immigrant whose desire for connection, in spite of hardship that, for us, is unimaginable, reminded us why we are here in the first place:

We all have to find the means to provide for our families, but in doing so we often overwork ourselves; as a result our mental, emotional, physical, and social well being tends to suffer. Growing food has allowed me to remedy some of these ills that are all too common at present, by reconnecting with people and the earth. Working with other gardeners/farmers has really expanded my mind and social circle in ways I would have never imagined.

The theme of overwork - and overwhelm - seem more prevalent now than ever. If you, too, feel like you are grasping at straws, then perhaps a few of these ideas and resources can help you re-center. We continue to believe in the ability to work together from a place of generosity and abundance.

BE A GENTLE WARRIOR
Sometimes someone else perfectly pens the words and sentiments that you wish you had thought to write. We often enjoy the Be More With Less posts because they tap into the heart of conservation and simplicity. But this one seemed particularly apt because any person can use it.

SHARE A MEAL
Last week when we were feeling most overwhelmed and undernourished a friend showed up on our doorstep with a roast chicken. This simple act was pure magic. It was so surprisingly generous, and just what we needed. The food and the act fueled us through the better part of the week - the former used for dinner the first night, sandwiches the next day, and chicken soup the day after that - and the latter providing great food for thought on how we can show unexpected kindness and support to others.

If you're feeling at a loss today, consider doing something that will connect you to another person. Call it a random act of goodness. It won't single-handedly fix all of the world's problems, but it will spread kindness, and we could all use more of that.

To meaningful connection,
 

Taylor & Dorothy
Co-Founders, Good Food Jobs