July 23 Friday Update

1. 

So a lot of times in evangelical culture I got told to basically ignore my emotions, but here's an example of a way in which they can be really useful!

Today I was snippy. I kept finding little things to be irritated about and they bothered me way more than they usually do. On the one hand, I could ignore it or try to steamroll over it and it'd probably be okay... BUT the other thing I could do is investigate it, try to pinpoint why I'm so angry today, and then realize that I'm irritable because I'm anxious and it's difficult for me to deal with small irritations when my mind is preoccupied with The Big Thing I'm worried about. Does it make it any more OK for me to snap at somebody? Obviously not, but now it means that I can try to address my anxiety -- do some breathing, spend some prayer/meditation time, complete a piece of the task I'm stressed about -- and the irritation can die down. I'll feel better. Which matters. And then it's easier to do better.

I wouldn't have been able to feel and do better if I hadn't taken my emotions seriously.

2. 

My favorite compliment this week, from a friend who no longer uses Facebook: 

"I do miss some of the stuff like the games and playlists and stuff Hannah does.  Hannah, you truly make Facebook a brighter place. I just wish everyone would Facebook the way Hannah does (and all of you guys, of course.   Hannah just has a particularly special gift for Facebooking)" 

3. 
Last November for NaNoWriMo, I wrote a horror play about American evangelicalism and Trumpism. I think I have another one brewing. Also horror, also exploring similar (but different) themes. I may have to get that one written in November. Is this going to be my subgenre now?

July 16 Friday Update

1. Let's do some mini-blogging!

2. Lately I've had all these ideas floating around in my head and haven't quite been able to figure out the outlet for them. Maybe if I keep one of these open it'll help!

3. It's... kind of a miracle that after spending years healing from church hurts and being in a place of maybe wanting to try to step back into a faith community, that the massive wave of "I'm sorry you might die but it's more important to me to be comfortable" from the evangelical community during the pandemic didn't set me back, like, ALL the way. I'm a little amazed I still have any hope in the church left.