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YESTERDAY IT REACHED...
115 degrees in Portland, OR. The average temperature for that date is 73 degrees.
When the heat increases - both literally and figuratively - it's natural to feel exhausted and overwhelmed.
And it seems as though, culturally, we are dealing with one excessive heat wave or another - infernos that demand our attention, distract us, and drain us. A sense of helplessness can be part of that overwhelm, especially when we don't all have equal access to tools that help us survive certain situations unscathed.
Overwhelm can come in many forms - whether it's an obsession with or inability to escape 'being busy' - a capitalist construct promoting the idea that nothing is ever 'enough' - or getting through the day-to-day of parenting small children in a country that touts 'family values', without actually valuing the legitimate needs of families (for example, paid family leave or access to affordable healthcare).
Our most important message to those who are feeling overwhelmed is: you are not alone. There are forces at play to make you feel like you are a hamster on a perpetually spinning wheel. In response to that, we created Good Food Jobs to break the standards or norms of an 'internet start-up', as a platform for amplifying alternatives to the many cultural cues we're fed. Those who paved the way before us have always been our inspiration, reminding us that being seen as 'normal' is not worth as much as real cultural change.
In a world that feels overwhelming we are constantly in search of what feels real. We're in search of what roots us. That search yields ideas that are often counter to the overwhelm out there:
- Less is more
- Conservation is key
- Simplify for the most abundant bounty
- It's not about getting a bigger piece of the pie so much as teaching each other how to make more pie (especially in good company)
So when you feel the overwhelm creeping up, take a deep breath, and continue to tackle things one at a time. Once excellent, beautifully narrated resource for practicing settling your body is Resmaa Menakem's My Grandmother's Hands.
We can't solve every problem all at once, but we continue to make strides with a full heart and a clear mind.
Yours in food, justice, and food justice,
Tay + Dor
Elle Scott and Chimere Ward of SheChef photographed by Clay Williams for GFJ Stories
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tidbits...
resources on anti-racism, environmentalism and food culture AKA stuff we're reading / listening to / watching / noticing / thinking about / captivated by this Tuesday . . .
At this point you'd think we just have a permanent place for the Undistracted podcast in our tidbits. But when it comes to overwhelm with the news cycle and the issues of yesterday, today, and tomorrow we are grateful for Brittany Packnett Cunningham, for her hard work and ability to concisely cut through the noise, distilling everything down into actionable items to make positive change. Her work is a gift to us all.
Speaking of overwhelm, the We Can Do Hard Things podcast covered the subject last week. This spot on interpretation of the subject through the realm of caretaking - particularly on the part of women - made us feel seen and heard.
We know it's a heat wave, so the last thing on your mind is how to keep your toes cozy, but one of the simple comforts keeping us rooted this year has been the daily ritual of shedding our shoes when we get home and slipping on a pair of Glerups.
On the off chance that any of you are based near or passing through Hudson, NY, be sure to check out the newly opened Little Rico Juice Cafe + Wellness Bodega. It's a slice of welcoming / energizing / nourishing heaven (best captured visually via @alittlerico).
For many NY-based restaurants and bars, the pandemic-prompted executive order allowing to-go cocktails was a life-line. In the muddy waters where the line between mid- and post-pandemic is unclear, many business were caught off guard as Governor Cuomo cut off the privileges with 24 hours notice. @hunkydorybk summed it up best.
'With overwhelming joy and honor for her.' - on watching Sha'Carri Richardson win the Olympic trials while setting a new world record in the Women's 100 meter race.
Read the latest GFJ Story on Elle Scott and Chimere Ward of SheChef, a resource for women of color in food media, hospitality, and food and beverage to seek each other out for mentorship and career opportunities.
got a tidbit? drop it here for us and we'll share it in next week's newsletter.
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