Sunday, November 10, 2024

group shout... out

It was supposed to be a communal scream to rage against the election results. As it turned out, we did a lot of talking and shared info about local organizations doing good work (the Refugee Development Center, The Fledge, and Salus Center, to name a few; a Google doc is forthcoming). 

One person suggested we shout from our diaphragm rather than scream because screaming might hurt our vocal cords and increase our cortisol levels while shouting would make us feel powerful. So that's what we did much to the surprise of the ducks and geese out on the lake.

I lacked the energy to go to yesterday's potluck, so I wondered if I would make it out of the house today, but the person organizing the communal scream was sick, and somehow suddenly I was the facilitator, so I had to go. (I wish I'd stop doing this, btw--at Friday's Faculty Meeting, I agreed to be the humanities rep on a committee because there was no humanities rep and I was afraid if I didn't volunteer then the humanities wouldn't be represented at all.) 

Anyway, I'm glad I went today. It was good to be in community and to meet new people. (I can't say I feel radically unburdened or different though.)

Pic: Sharp Park at sunset after our group scream shout. 

14 comments:

Sarah said...

OOOOH -- what a dilemma. On one had, you do a lot of academic care work already. On the other hand-- in the budgetary times, the humanities need a voice.

Gillian said...

Nice

Nicole said...

You do so much, Maya!
That photo is so beautiful, thanks for posting that.

NGS said...

You were probably right about the humanities being unrepresented if you didn't volunteer. Additional uncompensated labor is exhausting.

Revanche said...

I don't know if we're going to have much opportunity to feel unburdened in the next four or more years. I'm going to look for building and feeling in community, and solidarity, for the near future.

Jenny said...

The photo is beautiful. That was a good decision- screaming seems like fear and panic, while a nice shout is strong and powerful.

maya said...

You get it... My colleagues are similarly burdened, someone or the other has to step up. It was my turn, probably.

maya said...

Thanks!

maya said...

Thanks, Nicole!

maya said...

Thank you, higher ed. friend, you get our sad reality...

maya said...

I was hoping for some momentary lightness at least, I think... Four years feels like such a long time! Gah.

maya said...

Thank you, Jenny. I keep thinking I'll wake from this nightmare...

StephLove said...

I think our hike yesterday was like that. It was nice while we were doing it but I don't feel substantially better today.

maya said...

I wonder how we're going to get through the next four years, Steph. Will it be like holding our breath and occasionally coming up for a gulp of air?

Corinth, Epidaurus, Mycenae, Nafplio

I've even had students named after Greek philosophers before, but oh--the thrill of hearing "Aristotle!" or "Chimera!...