How are you guys doing? I hope you’re doing as well as can be expected during these difficult times (I feel like that’s a sentiment that keeps repeating itself the last couple of years). As I mentioned at the end of my February Recap post, the war in Ukraine has made many things feel frivolous. Talking about style and material items seem so inconsequential when innocent people are losing their lives. And yet, innocent people have been losing their lives in other war-torn countries around the world. But truth be told, it feels more jarring when it’s a European country (hello white-bias/colonial thinking that infiltrates us all). Black and brown refugees have popped up in my consciousness in the past (though admittedly not often). The last time I blogged about refugees was in 2018 when I watched the documentary Human Flow, and started donating annually to the International Rescue Committee (thanks Leah for putting them on my radar way back then). I continue to donate to them yearly as one of my go-to nonprofits, but I gave them another donation this year because of Ukraine. At the very least I hope this war in Ukraine opens everyone’s eyes to the waste and devastation of war anywhere (usually started by greedy and powerful men—damn I’m so over the patriarchy, I honestly believe there would be less wars if women were the head of countries). And I hope it makes people more kind to all refugees and migrants.

As for me, I’m continuing to follow the war in Ukraine but I try not to doom scroll. But I did watch some very hard to see videos mostly coming from the social media of Ukrainian people (including this one—trigger warning: it deals with the death of a child—watch here). It is very difficult to watch but I feel like I need to bear witness at the very least. To ignore the atrocities because of discomfort feels immoral (especially since I do have the mental health capacity to take it—I totally get it if you really just can’t without your mental health spiraling).

And sorry to totally shift gears, but on the bright side I turn 39 today. Even with all the terrible news and ongoing pandemic I have to say I still feel hopeful and I look forward to my 39th year on this Earth. It might be because personally I’ve cut back on my screen time, I’m no longer drinking alcohol, and have started some healthy habits. I’m also back to my bookworm self (who’s been on a bit of a hiatus since pregnancy), and I’ve finished two books in the last week (both personal development books, my favorite kind). As the saying goes, I may not be able to do everything but I can still do something. And I’m grateful for every day I’m alive to get a chance to try. And friends, if you feel like giving me a bday present today I would greatly appreciate any donation you can make to the International Rescue Committee (thank you guys!).