Natalie Audelo

“The roots of wars and conflicts – which reached their highest global peak since World War II last year, by the way – lie in inequality as well. But also, in greed. Because what is war, really, if not the ultimate expression of greed, of insatiable hunger for land and resources and power and domination, no matter the cost in human lives?”

“You can store meat in your own pantry or in the belly of your brother. Both have the result of keeping hunger at bay but with very different consequences for the people and the land which provided that sustenance.” —Robin Wall Kimmerer

That day, I realized I don’t want my friend—or anyone—to apologize for being away from their phone again. I don’t want someone to feel bad if the social load is overwhelming, or if I am currently one long-distance relationship too many. I have other friends who can love me in the interim.

While adapting to living here might sound pessimistic and resigned, I found talking about it deeply up-lifting. This is partly the subtle therapy of acknowledging the truths that hide in plain sight, though also because despite the insecurity that living here entails; it ’s an altogether more humane place to inhabit. It’s where we recognise our int... See more

I don’t have any answers because I don’t think there are any. But I’m fond of Margaret Wheatley’s framing of creating “islands of sanity,” which a kind reader reminded me of in the lovely comments of my last post. These islands are crucially not places of retreat, but rather of contribution — hyperlocal, small in scale, yet deeply meaningful. To re... See more