Plus, The Antidote #36: long COVID as epidemic, the damage COVID does to kids' organs, and NY's ridiculous attempt to ban masks. Also, birds! And chocolate ice cream.
Thanks for the shoutout! Wow, this post has so many good nuggets, tips, news blips and anecdotes! I can’t wait to reread tomorrow to really dive into all these links. Also love Alex Howard. His whole series on resetting the nervous system is *chefs kiss*.
Thanks Lauren! Yeah, my posts are hard to consume in one sitting. And I don’t think Alex Howard gets the attention he deserves online! He’s really great.
The wish list was easy to set up through Amazon, and I got literally hundreds of gifts in the roughly 1.5 years I had it going (I recently removed it and went to paid subscriptions and Buy Me a Coffee for those who can’t afford to subscribe). If you don’t like using Amazon, there’s also a site called Throne where you can ask for a variety of gifts. I find it’s helpful to include a wide range of items/costs. An appreciative reader with little money will sometimes send you the lowest price item you have (for me, that was probably toothpaste or cat treats), but I always appreciated it. But then you may get someone with means for whom sending you your high priced wish is not a heavy lift, so definitely include it.
Let me know if you have any other questions. Overall, I loved having a wish list. The best part was the notes people would include with the gifts. They often made my day :)
Oh my goodness this is so helpful. Thank you. And totally get your point about the price range — personally, I have sent the odd book to a BookTok creator who has an Amazon wish list. I love what she creates and puts out into the world and it’s lovely to give back — you can see how much the parcels mean to her and especially the notes! She reads them out and then adds the books to her collection. It’s really simple but feel good stuff and I’m definitely going to explore it further. It’s that simple concept of paying it forward which I love too.
Thank you for sharing that video. Oof, balm for the soul for sure. The article on Anxiety was so helpful too (and validating that I'm doing a lot of the right things to manage my anxiety). It's hard to wrap my head around the fact it's only May and we have to endure 4+ years of this BS. Thankful for you and all the other Substackers here who are helping me get through this dumpster fire, one day at a time.
What insight into what’s going on in the news!! Thanks so much for broaching what is a difficult topic to face and then give voice to.
I definitely connect with level ups in your writing and this is another one. Though tbf, it’s probably in your nature to brave it up and step right into the unknown.
It forever feels like there’s a journey unfolding for you here and it’s not just disability by chronic illness (not that it’s a ‘just’). But there’s also purpose to it. Like part of something bigger. Much bigger.
You’re so kind Amber and have such a generous, giving spirit. Your words mean a lot to me, especially knowing where you’ve been and what you’ve gotten through as well 🫶🏻
Ripley is such a doll!!! Your guy sounds like such a sweetie!!!
Amy, I am squeezing you in solidarity because WHAT IS LIFE RIGHT NOW? Have you seen Trump dressed as the Pope posted on his official account? 😭
Needed that reminder of limiting news consumption to 10 minutes because there are times I will fall into a dark rabbit hole of horrors, rendering me useless for most of the day. Thank you.
You sent me on a hunt for that RIDICULOUS Trump-as-pope pic. He’s out of his Virgin Mary orange gourd.
And thank you- my Baldy is a sweetie with the felines! When we met, he was a self-professed not-a-cat guy. It took me a few years but now he’s lapping me in the cat heartstrings department ☺️
There’s so much great information in this week’s edition Amy! I particularly enjoyed the explanation about anxiety and the story about the Breakfast Club reunion. Oh and the homeless man who won $1 million! I also strongly identified with the article about needing to use a scheduling tool to find a date to meet with friends! I’m looking forward to your next post!
I love reading comments like this where people tell me exactly which links were the most interesting to them. Thanks Paula! Your comment will help drive the Amy algorithm in my brain, lol.
One of the worst parts of this administration is the constant never ending gaslighting - like how how HOW can people see what’s happening so insanely differently. I have fake arguments with MAGA in my head and it’s exhausting
Your wealth of knowledge and resources are astounding Amy! Thank you for generously including my last episode here too. I’m glad you found it worthy. 💛
See also NYT coverage on the dismantling of the Administration for Community Living, which implements programs for people with disabilities and coordinates across the government. Also excellent coverage on this from Mother Jones.
Thank you for that, Kelly. The truth is, there were soooo many fuckery links I could have included this time. Everything “eugenics” seems to be picking up speed. What makes zero sense is that they want to label the disabled “useless eaters,” yet they’re dismantling any efforts to keep important accommodations work going so that folks can access work (and other important areas of life). They are colossal and dangerous hypocrites.
Thank you for this, Amy--and thank you for including my work. There is so much going on in the world that can cost us joy, but as I always say about birds: They aren't "there for you," but they're there for you.
Thanks for the shoutout! Wow, this post has so many good nuggets, tips, news blips and anecdotes! I can’t wait to reread tomorrow to really dive into all these links. Also love Alex Howard. His whole series on resetting the nervous system is *chefs kiss*.
Thanks Lauren! Yeah, my posts are hard to consume in one sitting. And I don’t think Alex Howard gets the attention he deserves online! He’s really great.
I’ve been contemplating setting up my own Wish List — and seeing that you had one is giving me a little nudge for the future.
I don’t want paid subscriptions to affect what little support I get via this Gov in the UK!! Did you find it straightforward enough to set up?
The wish list was easy to set up through Amazon, and I got literally hundreds of gifts in the roughly 1.5 years I had it going (I recently removed it and went to paid subscriptions and Buy Me a Coffee for those who can’t afford to subscribe). If you don’t like using Amazon, there’s also a site called Throne where you can ask for a variety of gifts. I find it’s helpful to include a wide range of items/costs. An appreciative reader with little money will sometimes send you the lowest price item you have (for me, that was probably toothpaste or cat treats), but I always appreciated it. But then you may get someone with means for whom sending you your high priced wish is not a heavy lift, so definitely include it.
Let me know if you have any other questions. Overall, I loved having a wish list. The best part was the notes people would include with the gifts. They often made my day :)
Another option is myregistry.com
Oh my goodness this is so helpful. Thank you. And totally get your point about the price range — personally, I have sent the odd book to a BookTok creator who has an Amazon wish list. I love what she creates and puts out into the world and it’s lovely to give back — you can see how much the parcels mean to her and especially the notes! She reads them out and then adds the books to her collection. It’s really simple but feel good stuff and I’m definitely going to explore it further. It’s that simple concept of paying it forward which I love too.
I think you should definitely do it. People like having a way to show their appreciation for what you’re doing here ☺️
Thank you for sharing that video. Oof, balm for the soul for sure. The article on Anxiety was so helpful too (and validating that I'm doing a lot of the right things to manage my anxiety). It's hard to wrap my head around the fact it's only May and we have to endure 4+ years of this BS. Thankful for you and all the other Substackers here who are helping me get through this dumpster fire, one day at a time.
Thank you for reading as always, Jackie. We will get through this hellscape together! 💟
Amen! ❤️
What insight into what’s going on in the news!! Thanks so much for broaching what is a difficult topic to face and then give voice to.
I definitely connect with level ups in your writing and this is another one. Though tbf, it’s probably in your nature to brave it up and step right into the unknown.
It forever feels like there’s a journey unfolding for you here and it’s not just disability by chronic illness (not that it’s a ‘just’). But there’s also purpose to it. Like part of something bigger. Much bigger.
You’re so kind Amber and have such a generous, giving spirit. Your words mean a lot to me, especially knowing where you’ve been and what you’ve gotten through as well 🫶🏻
Ripley is such a doll!!! Your guy sounds like such a sweetie!!!
Amy, I am squeezing you in solidarity because WHAT IS LIFE RIGHT NOW? Have you seen Trump dressed as the Pope posted on his official account? 😭
Needed that reminder of limiting news consumption to 10 minutes because there are times I will fall into a dark rabbit hole of horrors, rendering me useless for most of the day. Thank you.
You sent me on a hunt for that RIDICULOUS Trump-as-pope pic. He’s out of his Virgin Mary orange gourd.
And thank you- my Baldy is a sweetie with the felines! When we met, he was a self-professed not-a-cat guy. It took me a few years but now he’s lapping me in the cat heartstrings department ☺️
😂 I’m sorry! You needed to see the insanity. I love that he’s into kitties now! What a WIN!
There’s so much great information in this week’s edition Amy! I particularly enjoyed the explanation about anxiety and the story about the Breakfast Club reunion. Oh and the homeless man who won $1 million! I also strongly identified with the article about needing to use a scheduling tool to find a date to meet with friends! I’m looking forward to your next post!
I love reading comments like this where people tell me exactly which links were the most interesting to them. Thanks Paula! Your comment will help drive the Amy algorithm in my brain, lol.
Ripley!! 😍
One of the worst parts of this administration is the constant never ending gaslighting - like how how HOW can people see what’s happening so insanely differently. I have fake arguments with MAGA in my head and it’s exhausting
It is truly a mindfuck of an exercise!
Your wealth of knowledge and resources are astounding Amy! Thank you for generously including my last episode here too. I’m glad you found it worthy. 💛
It’s just artful curation! And thank YOU for creating such meaningful videos and posts.
Wow, this is such a deep dive into so much valuable information! Thank you for the time you invest compiling these pieces.
Thank you for reading!
SO disappointed in Katy the buffoon, but this year's American Idol is the most unwatchable ever as Carrie Underwood has taken over with her Trumpery.
I heard that from my bestie recently! I don’t have cable anymore, so I couldn’t even watch that car wreck if I wanted to, lol.
See also NYT coverage on the dismantling of the Administration for Community Living, which implements programs for people with disabilities and coordinates across the government. Also excellent coverage on this from Mother Jones.
Thank you for that, Kelly. The truth is, there were soooo many fuckery links I could have included this time. Everything “eugenics” seems to be picking up speed. What makes zero sense is that they want to label the disabled “useless eaters,” yet they’re dismantling any efforts to keep important accommodations work going so that folks can access work (and other important areas of life). They are colossal and dangerous hypocrites.
Thank you for this, Amy--and thank you for including my work. There is so much going on in the world that can cost us joy, but as I always say about birds: They aren't "there for you," but they're there for you.
That’s a great quote, James! That’s true of all of the natural world, I’d say.