Hi John,

It’s me again, bringing you part 2 of my How to Survive a Challenging Era series. I hope you found some peace in my last email and that you have been sharing the love since then. Today’s email is about the power of activity over passivity, one of the greatest natural healers, and why I love them!

Be Active (in all its forms)

Let nature heal you: Getting outside in the fresh air and around some plants, the sky, the earth, and water… does my soul so good! Even in winter here in Canada, just getting outside and feeling the cold, noticing the snow on branches, seeing the wildlife and other humans… it’s invigorating. It wakes you and grounds you, literally! Get outside. Nature is a crucial part of fueling my body and inspiring my art. I lay it out on Why You Need Nature in your Creative Process.

Make art not war: Art is activism. It’s political. By art, I mean all the arts… from baking to dance to poetry to painting to code. It’s all art, and we’re all artists. We can all make something. Because I make visual art, let me speak about that. I feel something, and then I draw it or paint it. Letting your emotions pour out onto paper, canvas, or tablet is cathartic. It releases so much pressure. Like how good sex can act like an emotional reboot, so can making art. And it’s revolutionary. Art is resistance! When we honestly express our feelings, it challenges the official script. Why do you think, during an authoritarian regime, the first to be targeted are the artists, the poets, the writers, and the intellectuals? Because they challenge the party line… just by existing and making art! Here are 10 Tips for Igniting Your Creativity. So, go create!

One of my favorite cartoons at the moment that gave me so much joy creating for you, No Strings Attached.

Read as an act of resistance: I read daily. It’s seriously good material. The kind that gets banned in certain places. I read about autocracy, the inordinately wealthy, the abuse of power, dictators, gender, sexuality, feminism, white supremacy, masculinity, memoir, and so on. I want to be informed, intelligent and wise. I refuse to believe the status quo, popular opinion, or conspiracy theories. Truth is important to me. I want to seek, know, understand, and speak it… especially to power. Mostly, those in power prefer their citizens to be illiterate. Resist and read (or listen if you prefer audiobooks LOL)!

Mobilize and make noise: I live in Canada, where things are calmer for now. But if I were in the USA, I’d be all in. I’d join resistance and support groups, write to my political leaders, sign petitions, and spread the word with pamphlets, posters, and brochures. I’d show up for rallies, protests, and marches. I’d boycott, strike, and donate to causes like UNICEF, independent journalists, and local food banks (which I already do). I’d be a thorn in the side of abusive power—something I already am, but from a safer distance. I won’t stay silent because silence equals complicity, and that’s exactly what they want. I refuse to be paralyzed. It’s okay to be scared. I am. And there’s no shame in not feeling ready yet to come out and challenge abusive authority openly. So, just start small, start where you can. Say something. Do something. If you can.

A FINAL NOTE

So, my friend, keep moving, creating, and pushing back. Let your heart and soul breathe, but don’t shrink. These aren’t times for staying quiet — make noise, speak your truth, and resist the oppressive silence… if you can!

Much love my friend,

David

P.S. Which of these resonated with you the most? I’d love to hear. 🧡

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