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How are you doing, really? I know it has been a very hard week for many of us. If you are from the United States you know intimately the turmoil in our country and if you are watching from afar, I’m sure you are just as baffled by the outcome of this past election. Baffled, angry, sad even, but not surprised. The US was built on religious extremism, slavery and misogyny. If it has not been clear over the past decade or so with my blog, I support human rights. I believe in equality and equity. I stand for women’s rights, I stand against racism, ableism, misogyny, homophobia and transphobia. If any of that angers you, this is not the place for you. But if you have empathy and care for others, I know how much you are hurting right now and this is a safe space. I hope you find some joy here.
I know what it is like not being able to trust the people around you. And to be clear, this is not a democrat vs. republican thing. We can disagree on budgets and how institutions are run, but I cannot stand by in silence when someone supports the very symbol of hatred. I did not before and I never will.
I have given some people space as I process the news and I have surrounded myself with kind and supportive people. I know that my social media is an echo chamber right now, but I also know that I need to find support in my community. The best thing we can do for someone right now is acknowledge and validate their experience and pain. Provide a shelter for our souls.
So many lifestyle blogs and social media accounts unfortunately do not support human rights. Racists hide behind pretty pictures of their homesteads, gardens, and floral dresses. This is scary to me as a simple living and well-being creator, because I have never been anything other than authentic. Sometimes I follow a beautiful account only to discover that the person running it is very ugly inside. I’m a photographer that likes sharing pretty pictures. I love to garden and one day I wish to plant an orchard and have sheep and chickens. I wear floral dresses all the time. I’m learning new recipes and baking is fun. These things belong to everyone, but the far right movement has tried to take over these spaces as their own as if simple living is not for everyone. I have been more careful with who I follow and align with. It makes me angry that the trad wife movement (started by white supremacists in 2015) is taking over the simple living content that I enjoy as a tool to trick and manipulate others into their ideology. To clarify, the trad wife movement is not the same as being a stay at home mom or wife. As a feminist, of course I support a woman’s right to choose her own life and joy. I admire stay at home moms and career moms. The trad wife movement is not that. They do not believe in a women’s right to her own life in any way, including the right to vote or leave their husbands if they are being abused. It is a scary world they live in.
If you see my page and see country living, baking, gardening, and cottagecore posts, know that it is what it is. My page is authentically me. I stand for equality. I’m sharing that in case you are not sure. I have been fooled by pretty accounts online that looked inspiring, but then spewed hate. It goes without saying that I have unfollowed those accounts and have followed a so many more supportive and kind bookstagrammers, gardeners, homesteaders and creatives in place of them. It is ok to protect your space and your peace.
I have been told by sharing my intolerance for hate that I am being hateful and alienating people. I do not agree. The paradox of tolerance is that we cannot tolerate intolerance or it will poison the rest of a society. I cannot tolerate hate because it will harm the very people I wish to protect. I have been told that it is “embarrassing” that I share my personal thoughts online. I am a very private person, but I created this space for myself years ago in a time when I did not have a voice. I will not quiet my voice now. I will not be afraid to take up space, and that includes digital space. I will not be quieted or dimmed. I hope that you do not let anyone dim your light either. We need this light more than ever to get through these dark days.
So if you have been here a long time, you are safe here. If you are new and just getting to know my blog, know that this is a welcoming space. If you love simple living, crafts, home DIY and thrifting, baking and recipes, travel and New England, then this is your place. Thank you for being here with me. I hope that my blog posts give you a feeling of connection and know that you are not alone. I hope that the light we share is a balm for the soul. Thank you for being here.
