Dear all,

I was moved by Ilya Kaminsky's 2013 poem today. He is a Ukrainian American, so this is making the rounds at this tense time of heartbreak. His book is on my list of must reads. If only the poets of heart could be heard, around the world.

Ilya Kaminsky reads “We Lived Happily During the War”

I've had two blog posts at Psychology Today in the last month:

Hamaguchi’s “Drive My Car” and the Myth of Self-Regulation | Psychology Today

Asian American Elders Report Low Support, Life Satisfaction | Psychology Today

I heard this story on NPR yesterday:

Former leader of Euromaidan protests says Ukraine will resist Russia again

4 minutes reminded me of the great battle between our reptilian brains and our mammalian nurturing and caregiving brains. Here is a mom, trying to provide nurturance for her daughter, and her daughter, who just wants to care for a guinea pig. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin treats his vulnerability and insecurity as a goad to exert power. Hanna Hopko here says Putin is "a little gangster, his heart full of fear. He's afraid of transatlantic unity...We care about guinea pigs, about everybody."

Can the fearful gangster be soothed? Can we set limits and curtail the influence of the world's fearful gangsters? We've known so many of them. And ultimately, as Hopko says, they are afraid of our unity. 

Here's to unity and community.

Finally, I hope you might spread the word:

The Bandaged Place: A fundraiser for J-town and The Fillmore!

Support Japantown and The Fillmore District by seeing this SF film! Winner of BEST FILM at the 2021 Cannes Independent Film Festival!

75% of proceeds through March 31, 2022 will go to support these local non-profits (25% each)

1. National Japanese American Historical Society (NJAHS)
2. The African American Arts and Cultural Complex (located in the Fillmore District/Western Addition)
3. The Japantown Foundation’s COVID-19 Recovery Fund

The film is only $4.99 to rent and $9.99 to purchase! A small amount to kick in towards three great local San Francisco causes. And the cast and crew are all BIPOC artists from diverse backgrounds - 25% of your proceeds will go towards supporting them as well. Trailer online! 

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/bandagedplace

Stay safe and well out there!

Ravi