The final countdown, community! 
Only 3 days remain in the pre-order campaign, depending on where you live on the globe. 

Why the push? 

The hope is to attract a publisher with a solid number of pre-orders.  If not, I will self-publish.  

1. This week I connected with Emily Levy of The Power To Make a Difference and Paul Zelizer of the Awarepreneurs Community. Last week, I learned about Leslie Gregory's work to alleviate the health disparities that come with racial injustice through Emily, and I learned of Paul's work from Traci Ruble of Sidewalk Talk. 

What a beautiful web we weave when first we choose to conceive. 

It was new information for me that Sidewalk Talk emerged following the murder of Trayvon Martin.  Traci noticed her community talking about the incident, didn't know what to do, and felt moved to go out to the street and literally sit on the sidewalk.  Her intention: to listen to her neighbors, to be with and hear her community.  

2. I've moved from Chiang Mai to Kyoto where I've learned the cops carry an old revolver that holds just 5 bullets. "According to the BBC and GunPolicy.org Japan only had six gun deaths in 2014...And it's not like 2014 was special. The norm in Japan is single digit gun deaths annually. For a country with a population of almost 130 million that's very impressive!." - Patrick from the thetokyotourist.com

It's a complex history lesson as to the reasons why there are very few guns in civilian and police hands, but, it got me thinking. Before I did further research, a Japanese friend back in the US mentioned cops here carry no guns and, while out on a run today, I ran (let's be real-wogged) past a cop. I looked, didn't see a gun, and immediately felt my nervous system settle. I have a brief history of experiencing police brutality.

Feeling myself settle reminded me of a conversation I had with a woman of color who was telling me about the difference between teaching a teen to drive a car who is black versus a teen who is not black. It is a very, very different set of rules.  
What, can we even begin to imagine, are the mental health implications of being born under, living under, trying to survive under these rules? And when do nervous systems get to settle, if ever?  

I am curious about these subtle, and not so subtle shifts in our nervous system in the face of danger and threat and how they shape the brain. September marks my seventh month traveling abroad and, as a woman and lesbian, I always have to assess my level of safety.  Check out Robin DiAngelo's book, White Fragility, for more on white women using 'safety' as code for racism.  More often than not, I reach a state of ease and comfort. While it does not always feel safe to write about race or engage in race talk, I recognize it's a privilege to opt out. 
I choose to not opt-out, and it is from this space that I write. 

3. It was a very long #2 so I will end with a quick but heartfelt thanks for being with me on this journey.  I have held everyone's words of support close to my heart.  Thank you, all of you.  Please feel free to reach out and share what any of this content evokes for you. 

Please click here to visit the campaign and pre-order and spread the word if you feel inspired. 

With love and deep gratitude, 

Ali