A Little Levity

aint never hurt nobody!

Happy Last Day of Prek3 at New York City Public Schools for all who celebrate! I’m not gonna lie, I am very unprepared for substackU this week. But I am reaaaaaally trying to stay consistent with writing, because my brain needs consistency to believe things are real. So here we are, trying!

Also, I don’t know about you, but this time of year (helloooo cancer season) naturally activates sad girl summer vibes for me. But something equally powerful is brewing within.

It’s… levity!

I’ve been thinking a lot about levity lately. It came up in a session with a client of mine this week, where we were talking about levity as the antidote to wallowing. It was in that moment I was able to realize (yes I’m aware her therapy became mine… oops) that levity is a crucial life force for me. If joy is sometimes doing the most, levity is it’s hot, younger sister with an impeccable sense of humor. Levity is honest, resilient positivity. It is an artform. If a wave of sadness is coming through, levity is a sturdy, effervescent booey to hold onto until the feeling passes.

Lately, I’ve been trying to process a lot of mixedness through the lens of levity. I’m learning that when you do a deep dive on mixedness, especially in the context of the US, it can feel suuuuper heavy. This identity, while beautiful in many, many ways, has a twisted underbelly of exploitation, abuse, loss, and isolation. So much isolaton. And while I don’t want to shy away from understanding these parts of myself, I need my levity lifejacket to help me feel safe.

So with that… a few recent moments that have brought some much needed levity to my spirit, and hope it will bring some to yours too!

Lenny broke her week-long hunger strike with the most expensive fruit she could get her hands on.

After a category 6 meltdown, Wes melting our hearts on a swing.

Last weekend, while solo with the kids (honestly, please cue the applause!) I took them to the Coney Island mermaid parade. It was hot and very, very crowded. While our plan was just to be parade onlookers, we ended up walking IN the parade (Wes’s idea to sneak into it!) and it was honestly soooo much fun. Note to self - when in doubt, sneak into the parade.

While in the process of looking for my own therapist and psychiatrist, I stumbled upon this identity questionnaire for one practice with these categories to choose from. In my 36 years filling out questionnaires, I have NEVER had the choice of “Bi/Multi-racial.” Turns out, it really does feel great to be seen.

Love,

Jesse