SENT FROM AND FOR TX, WITH LOVE ❤️

Checking in from Houston.

How are you doing over there?

When I sent my last email and podcast episode (on building capacity and shoring up our own response-ability in 2025+), I couldn't have imagined the sheer volume of heartbreaking headlines and human stories we’d be sorting through just a week later. 💔

Amidst launches and laundry, bedtimes and back-to-school shopping, if you’re currently feeling the weight of:

– historic floods in the Texas hill country (and North Carolina, and New Mexico)

– the complexity, confusion, and controversy surrounding recent U.S. legislation

– the devastation and uncertainty of war in countries you’ve never set foot in

– and/or any other personal challenge shaking your own family system

I hope you’re able to find at least a moment of stillness and rest today. ❤️

WAYS TO HELP

If you’re looking to send donations and support to TX and haven't had a chance to search for links to trusted organizations, here's a list worthy of your consideration:

⭐️ Community Foundation of The Texas Hill Country - the direct umbrella donation link

🍽️ Mercy Chefs - providing hot meals for families, first responders, volunteers

🔦 TEXSAR Search & Rescue - Austin-based non-profit, adding updates to their page daily.

⚓️ United Cajun Navy - these folks were invaluable to my hometown during Harvey, bringing their boats and organizing rescues via pop up FB groups. will never forget it.

🛒 The "local grocery store" I referenced in my podcast episode bc when ish hits the fan they double down vs. slowing or shutting down. We ❤️ HEB.

WORDS OF WISDOM

For mental and emotional support - now and later - these two posts are absolutely worth saving and reading when you can:

💞 on steadiness, gentleness, and safe connection, especially with and for kiddos, by Martha Jo Atkins, PhD, LPC-S, SEP in San Antonio, Texas

📰 tips for handling "the seemingly neverending deluge" of disturbing news by Cindy Otis, former CIA intelligence analyst, written in 2018 and relevant as ever*

*sidebar I haven't yet watched this but bookmarking for later - in 2022 she also shared a presentation on how to spot fake news, another key skill for the times!

RESPONSE-ABILITY: WHAT'S THE WORK WE CAN DO?

As I shared during the LA wildfires, you can count on me to be watching, listening, over-processing, and organizing potentially useful info in times of need. 👀

Despite my best bifocal intentions and keen awareness that action is the antidote for anxiety around here, I absolutely slipped into freeze mode for a good bit of the weekend.

As the reports rolled in from Kerrville, I was glued to my phone looking for every update, firsthand account, and vetted "helper" link and rescue story I could find.

In addition to thoughts, prayers, physical and financial donations, it's natural and useful for us to wonder:

What can I actually do to help here?

I shared this post about extreme weather prep earlier this year, but this week I've been organizing thoughts around extreme weather RESPONSE.

Specifically, I'd like to create a time, space, and framework for us to:

⚡️ remove any all-or-nothing, pass-fail perfectionism from disaster response

⚡️ identify our own #onherterms response-ability (what we're willing + able to do + when)

⚡️ honor what we CAN do vs. belittling our own contribution or (worse) disengaging altogether and leaving it for “everyone else”... bc there's no such thing!

FREE COMMUNITY RESPONSE WORKSHOP: NEXT WEDNESDAY

I'll bottle my first round of thoughts in podcast form as a conversation starter to get the gears turning, but I think the real magic will happen if we gather in REAL TIME so I can walk you through a series of prompts to map out YOUR #onherterms response plan.

Something that feels real, possible, and valuable to you and the communities and causes you care about.