THE POTATO SACK RACE 🥔

One way or another, for one reason or one million...

WE MADE IT TO DECEMBER, {first_name}. ❤️

With allllll the plot twists 2024 / human history has stirred up to date, we are HERE.

I was out of email mode for most of the last month (henceforth known as NovemBLUR), so if you'll indulge me, before we resume our regularly scheduled seasonal programming, I'd like to share a few reflections on the recent election here in the US and how that may or may not impact our connection / work together moving forward.

(I appreciate when folks share their inner thoughts + feels bc it helps me paint a clearer picture of who I'm dealing with on the other side of the screen / street / planet. I welcome your thoughts too if you'd like to share. Just hit reply.)

If you're still reading...

I humbly present: election reflections. A month later.

Rather than rushing in with a hot take, I often lean towards quiet consumption in times of conflict and chaos.

May be the "1" in my human design, may be a trauma response*.

In either case, as I processed my own thoughts and feelings about the election last month while simultaneously consuming the valid concerns, thoughts, and feelings of friends, fam, clients, pundits, and a squillion strangers on the internet, I filled a Google doc with no fewer than 11 pages of musings, resources, and reflections I found noteworthy.

The doc includes some resonant links - like this incredibly thoughtful newsletter written by fellow mom + milspouse Megan Hale that made me want to slow clap.

And this TEDx talk, where "America's Government Teacher" Sharon McMahon uses history to present the case that hope is a choice.

I realize that not everyone has the capacity, willingness, and/or privilege to choose hope right now, or maybe ever, but I'm holding meta-hope that enough people will hold the vision for a [healthy democracy, worthwhile future, insert your deep desire for humanity here] anyway.

ELECTION REFLECTIONS: ABRIDGED VERSION

This Texas-sized emotional support doc also includes half-baked musings like:

Curiosity > conclusions

How can we come together AND stay true to who we are and what we value?

What’s the alternative? A Thanos snap, where half the country disappears?

We don't agree on everything / never will.

More fixed, more rigid = more vulnerable to breakage and attack.

What's ideal? Dynamic state. Willing and able to GROW from conflict vs staying inflamed and increasing distance between us.

We’re in a giant potato sack race. Our outcomes are inextricably linked.

Working together is the only way we win.

So yeah. No curated carousel of thoughts to share here.

My musings may be too clinical / thinky / Marvel-themed for your taste, and that's okay.

I don't expect us to agree on everything.

In fact, I can honestly say after the processing I've done on this, despite a deep desire to "keep the peace" my whole life, I don't even WANT us to agree on everything. (!)

It's not real, possible, or even desirable.

🥔🥔🥔 IT'S THE POTATO SACK RACE, {first_name}. 🥔🥔🥔

The metaphor applies to so many scenarios. A nation. A family. A neighborhood HOA. Ultimately, a whole planet. We're all in this together.

When ish hits the fan, I find comfort in knowing that we’re not nearly as divided as monetized media make it seem.

I love and live by humans who vote, worship, and believe differently than I do.

Yes, it can be hard and complicated. To me, it's also worth the effort.

For the sake of my sanity and my kids' future, I'm choosing to HOPE that we're growing from this.

And again: I totally understand if you're not there yet / ever.

I'll hoard extra hope over here for now.

WHAT YOU CAN COUNT ON FROM ME 🙋🏻‍♀️

If you've known me for any amount of time, I hope it's not news to you that in my spaces, from my living room to my Zoom room, we value kindness, respect, curiosity, and critical thinking.

(We are wholly human, sometimes spicy in practice, of course, but this is the goal.)

Here's a snippet from a community guidelines draft I worked on recently:

We are a diverse group of individuals with unique perspectives. Respect for one another’s experience, race, religion, orientation, and identity is not just expected—it’s a requirement. Discrimination, hate speech, or demeaning comments will not be tolerated in any form. This is a space for open-mindedness and mutual respect, even when we don’t see eye to eye.

I can't control what happens when you're in community with folks out THERE, {first_name}, but if and when you're in any space I'm responsible for, this is the agreement we operate under.

This is what you can count on from me and anyone who opts in to my orbit.

It's likely that none of the above is surprising to you, but I wanted to share anyway bc it felt out of integrity to skip right to the holidays without acknowledging such a huge social moment.

If you read this far, thank you.

I hope you know how grateful I am to be connected in this way.

I'm here for you. I'm rooting for us. ❤️

Back with more soon.

P.S. Related podcast episode to have on tap when you need it: 🎪 reminders for when ish feels out of control. The focus is on action as an antidote for anxiety.

P.P.S. For my fellow overconsumers / investigators: If you didn't click this reel earlier, here's your second chance. You're on the edge of glory.

Hi 👋 I'm Nikki (Elledge Brown).

Writer, podcaster, and creative advisor for brilliant women who love their work, their people, and their alone time.

As a professional overthinker who believes strongly in INTEGRITY > BALANCE, it's my nerdy pleasure to create and share tools, questions, and frameworks that make it easier to feel good about how we’re showing up — on paper and in practice.

Around here, living like a whole human is the way.

That's what we call On Her Terms® living.