I just learned a new writing practice that really helped me uncover what is driving me crazy – people, places, and things I cannot control.

It’s a sentence stem – “It is not ok with me that …” and I was asked to write 20-30 responses.

Guess what? At least 80% of my list are out of my control. But it sure felt good to write them down!

I think the switchback of not analyzing an item before writing it was the hardest. I mean, I know the genocide in Gaza and the death-dealing colonization of Palestine at the hands of Zionists is completely out of my control. But to write with a pen on paper that I AM NOT OK WITH IT felt good. And letting that feeling wash over me helped me know in my gut that I can feel the feelings and not silence myself internally when I’m tackling a switchback.

I’d love for the sunrise in this practice to be that Israel and all nations complicit in its oppression of Palestine are not only held accountable but make reparations for multiple generations. I know better than to expect that. Perhaps the sunrise in this practice, instead, is seeing my list – and regaining my power to say what is and isn’t ok with me. That’s actually a huge thing for me – so I’ll take it.