15 Comments
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Samantha Jacqueline's avatar

❤️

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Laura Simpson's avatar

I always said - there’s no island where we can put all the people we disagree with. Thanks for reaffirming this perspective. It’s so important for all of us to move forward together.

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Cyndie Spiegel's avatar

You're very welcome. And thank you, Laura. x

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Kayo's avatar

Thank you for this post. I was visiting the BB King Museum in Mississippi and part of the exhibit mentioned criticism that BB King faced for not being more outspoken during the Civil Rights Movement. And it was noted that BB King chose to not speak out but instead used money raised from his concerts to bail out Civil Rights activists/leaders and provide funds for the movement. There are many ways to show up. Thank you for this reminder.

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Cyndie Spiegel's avatar

Thank you for sharing this about BB King and this powerful reminder that the messaging today of 'louder, louder and more' is not a new one. And reaffirming that, yes, there are MANY ways to care. x

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Gaby Guzman's avatar

I came to many of these conclusions after devoting the better part of a year to a Shadow Work practice. It helped me to *truly* see everyone’s full humanity and I couldn’t unsee the performative binary present across social media on a regular basis. It’s been too much energy for me to filter through which is why I hang out mostly on Substack these days. Thank you for so open-heartedly laying out your perspective and acknowledging the *many* powerful and valid ways to contribute to what you care for.

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Cyndie Spiegel's avatar

This binary is so dangerous and so very limiting. We can do so much better. And whew~ what a powerful way to spend a year, my friend.

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Andrea Lambert's avatar

“grief made me softer, more discerning, more grounded. These days, I activate through human conversation. Through listening. Through gathering”. Yes yes yes…i loved this

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Cyndie Spiegel's avatar

Thank you, Andrea.

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Brandi's avatar

Yes, yes, yes to all of this. I so appreciate your thoughtful words.

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Cyndie Spiegel's avatar

I'm really glad to hear that this resonated, Brandi. 🙏🏽

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Samantha's avatar

Thank you for this! Curious what practices (aside from writing and micro joys) got you to deeply trust the quieter activism? I feel it, sense it ... but then I step into spaces (any space-- happy hour, scroll, zoom) and feel my deep inner knowing get quiter and quieter.

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Cyndie Spiegel's avatar

Thank you for asking, Samantha. There’s no one right way. For me, learning to trust myself again in every sense, not just in quieter forms of activism, meant taking most of 2024 off. I learned to be quiet and reconnect with myself through meditation, long-form writing like this, and becoming comfortable with my own company instead of constantly filling my time with others. I had spent so many years trying to be part of everything and at the center of it all that this practice shifted me from the inside out.

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On The Money Investing's avatar

Thank you for speaking up about this. I wholeheartedly agree.

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Cyndie Spiegel's avatar

You're welcome.

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