You DO have agency

friendly reminder that we can still choose where to apply our energy

Good morning bread friends,

How are you doing this week? The past 3 weeks has felt a LOT longer than your average 3 weeks in America. I wouldn’t blame if you this meme feels like a life motto at this moment.

Today, I want to offer a simple word of encouragement to be mindful of what you can control.

I was talking to a friend recently who told me that they were in the process of getting training to be a Court Appointed Special Advocate. I had never heard of this CASA program, but apparently you’re a local volunteer who serves as a consistent advocate in the court system for a child who has experienced abuse or neglect. And your role is to help advocate for them for a safe and permanent place to live.

She was telling me that her mom has been volunteering in her community in this way for the past several years of retirement. She (like many) has had plenty of worry about our Nation since November… and her mom invited her to consider redirecting this energy towards working on something constructive in her own community.

She’s long admired that her mom seems to be very happy as a CASA volunteer, and her mom feels confident that she’s making a positive impact in people’s lives in their community.

So my friend sees this as a next step towards taking a concrete action to improve society, that she knows will also help her remember that she has agency in her own world.

This isn’t meant to be a promotional letter for the CASA program.

But I write this as a reminder to myself, and an invitation to you all… to be mindful of the reality Even if there is very little impact that you can make on a daily basis about the state of our nation, or international standing in the world… there are PLENTY of ways that you can take action to enrich your immediate community.

If you’ve taken up any new ways of volunteering lately I’d love to hear about it and cheer you on!

Or if you’re looking for ways to volunteer - feel free to reply to this email and I’m happy to brainstorm with you.

In the meantime - don’t forget to order bread. 😉 Reminder that we’re donating 100% of our profits this month to the River Food Pantry here in Dane County.

Cheers!

Mo
neighborhood baker