Loved ones around the world, let me share my March joy, study and rumination through a short note:
- Dinner Party by Terrace Martin- Can you go wrong with Terrace Martin and Kamasi Washington? Nay. This album has an old soul. Lyrics are simple and repetitive, with the soft jazzy notes of the background saxophone gently leading you by the hand into a meditative state. I imagine walking down lonely streets with the dim glow of street lights, marvelling at the world from the safe recesses of my mind. It’s also relatively short- 23 minutes-long enough to transport you into a different time, short enough that you enjoy the immersive experience. My top songs (truly love all)- but I adore the instrumental “First Responders”. “Love you Bad” makes me both want to slow dance and fuck tenderly. Another of note-Freeze Tag is one of those insidious songs with a clement melody, but lyrics that cut deep, “They told me put my hands up behind my head. I think they got the wrong one.”
- Those Winter Sundays by Robert Hayden- Y’all, I am a bumbling mess after this one. Last line has me deceased. Please pray for me. Also, called my dad right after to tell him I love him and he responded with a (loving and quizzical) hmmmm. I love my dad’s hmmms. It’s very #SouthAsianDad of him and he totally blushes when I say “iloveyousomuch”. Cuter man has literally never existed and that IS the correct use of literally.
- (TW: Sexual Violence) The Papers “Campus Sexual Violence Prevention Educators’ Use of Gender in Their Work: A Critical Exploration” and “Assessment of nurses’ competence to care for sexually assaulted trans persons: a survey of Ontario’s Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centre” were educative reads and illustrated critical gaps in current IPV efforts in place. I learned a lot and hope to continue reading more literature around this area. Also, this is probably not accessible unless you have an institute log in, so please message me if you would like the pdfs!
- #Qotd-On a day I needed it most, my friend who inspires me deeply through the relationship she cultivates with her soul and body (s/o to feminist pasta) happened to share a piece of her writing with me. “She acknowledged the critic who judged her whole self out of insecurity, but didn’t allow them to instil negative energy into her desire. She showed empathy towards the needy self who sought validation from her whole self, and opened the door to them towards unconditional love.” I’ve had rough patches with my mental health lately, and a by product is often a failed ability to be gentle with myself. It’s been pretty easy to resort to thinking “ugh I’m a fuck up” with the tiniest trigger. Uncharacteristically, I spoke to my friends about how I’ve been feeling. The resounding response was “you are not a burden!”, with them sharing art, words and giving me their time to help me get through the spot I was in. Really made me feel supported and disproved my qualms about being more open about mental health during the fact, rather than reemerging miraculously healed after, as I am want to do.
- Pleasure Activism by Adrienne Maree Brown- Dense read, very liberating, rooted in Black Queer Feminism. Some call it radical, I call it transformative. It’s about developing a guilt free relationship with pleasure (lust and otherwise) and investing in your joy through harm reduction and self-care. I sometimes find that these words are just thrown around in a woke or academic discourse-y manner, and really appreciate a book that gives them meaning, making them feel whole and achievable and defined. “Black Queer Feminism” by Mecca Jamilah Sullivan is a great (free) article with named icons. I can’t wait to explore their work further!
- Tumblring has been a godsend for my #sadboibutvibin state. Enjoying this one rn: https://ohbutwebestmakepeacewithit.tumblr.com
I could go on. Wishing you warm hugs, long drives with the wind in your face, good ass and good books ❤ Now, like a dad leaving a restaurant, I will end with “shall we?”.
