the antidote to all of *this* is: us. ❤️‍🩹

well, there's a lot of bad news, but also I have good news (I have ADHD!)

Hello dear neighbors, both digital and near,

This week has lasted a decade, and it’s only Wednesday. A dear friend and colleague texted me last night saying, “I don’t know that I’m cut out for this. Last few days have felt like being on the other end of a firing squad.”

Maybe you feel that too, I do.

But that’s by design. That’s how they want us to feel. Breaking us down, shattering our spirit and hope, rendering us inert. We mustn’t let them win. This week is bad, sad, heavy and full of grief, and I think we oughta feel those feelings fully–but then it’s time to act and move forward.

I came across this video by Doc Jana, published in July, but so relevant right now. She asks, “How would you spend your time now, if I told you that we win in the future?” Maybe this will resonate with you too:

Love for our neighbors, compassion for our planet, respect for humanity, and decency will win. We will win the long game. Unfortunately, that means we gotta play the game for now.

The good news is: I am officially diagnosed with ADHD (!!!), and just hearing those words was life changing. I instantly burst into tears. I feel affirmed in my suspicions about being neurodivergent. I feel validated for an entire lifetime of wondering why I couldn’t just do the things I wanted to do. I have pathways forward to support my brain and help her thrive.

My least favorite thing about myself is my lack of consistency and accountability (hello, erratic newsletter sending), and I have so much hope that now I’ll have the tools to show up and actually do what I want to do. I’m grieving all the opportunities I missed, balls I dropped, people I disappointed, work I struggled with–but ultimately, I am so hopeful for the future.

Speaking of doing what I want to do, here is my plan moving forward:

• First of all, I’m staying on Instagram and Threads. While I appreciate and grapple with the mess of engaging on platforms owned by billionaires I hate, I believe that it is dangerous for progressive voices to flee these channels. Haven’t we seen what happened to Twitter? I will be staying put in defiance.

• I will be redirecting my political musings and more progressive organizing communications off of spaces like public Instagram stories. I do believe Meta platforms will become more censored, and so my strategy on those channels is adapting. I want to use Instagram to collect a broader audience, influence it, and funnel people towards the harder hitting content that serves them best (like this Substack). I want my Instagram to be an invitation to those curious about caring for neighbors and the planet.

• My strategy for Instagram content is: create home + garden comfort content that welcomes folks into my space and encourages people to explore their personal values without explicit labels of Democrat vs. Republican. I have been studying tradwives for months, and am in awe of their ability to influence conservative politics + values without ever declaring who they voted for. I want to take that strategic genius and use it for good. While I’m fairly certain most of y’all reading this are progressive voters, I also have a non-insignificant audience of folks who are on the fence, ‘apolitical,’ or even straight up conservative. I deeply believe in connecting with, understanding, and influencing those people. It is an honor and a responsibility to have the trust of these folks who know where I stand but listen to what I have to say anyways. I want to be a bridge.

• Instagram subscribers will be getting the good good. I will be sharing more raw daily homestead life there, as well as more unhinged hot takes, political rants, chickens, recipes, sending people goodies from my PR packages, and spending my time in building relationships with y’all there. I will be investing more in people who are willing to invest in me too.

• Most importantly: I will be spending a lot more time organizing, gathering, building and learning IRL. This has been a growing practice over the last few years, but I believe it is essential now. We must deepen our roots with our actual literal neighbors if we want to endure what’s ahead. I’ve become isolated after my dark cyberstalker era, and it’s time to fully put myself out there again in community. My goal is to host one advocacy-focused meal gathering a month, and on Friday I’m hosting a little pizza party and sign-making craft night with a few friends before the Save Our Great Salt Lake rally on Saturday. I’m still nervous about opening my home and personal space, but I hope to be inviting some of y’all over soon.

I won’t make any promises about consistency or upcoming content (yes I’m still planning to do a little book club read) until I actually get on ADHD medication, but we’re moving forward together and despite everything else: we’ve got us. We will get each other through what’s ahead, and we will bask in the light of a brighter future together too.

Now go drink a big glass of water. Promise?

— Katie Boué