Comments on: duno if this answers the prompt but felt authentic

By: Jer Swigart

Jer Swigart — Tue, 02 May 2023 16:58:01 +0000

My man. Super deep here. Thank you for it. So much fodder for deeper conversation together. You close this brilliant piece with this: “And I possess the intelligence, creativity, ability, and courage to find a way back home in myself and a way back to kinship and connection with all my relations.” I wonder, can we find our way back home to self, to kinship, and to connection by simply deciding to do so? Do we have it within ourselves to take this journey? How is your quote above something different than the echoes of fierce individualism? Would love to hear your thoughts.

By: Lin Preiss

Lin Preiss — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 00:55:48 +0000

Thank you for bringing it here Josh. Your authenticity and reflection are a gift to us, to me as a white female dismantling the “norms” from which I have benefited and conditioned to try an prove myself to. The idea of depression as a “trance” is new to me, but makes so much sense. I am also struck by your phrase “a society crisis with our mental health”. That’s going to keep me thinking for a while. I recently was reading an account of Western history from an Indigenous perspective, and he too was calling out the construct of capitalism as destructive to our humanity. I am curious, as all of this is “human” right, a result of human endeavors, just very messed up consequence of humans, what definitions of (a better) humanity do you find helpful?

By: Jen Manlief

Jen Manlief — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 06:05:38 +0000

Josh. This truly feels authentic. I appreciate your realness here. I have recently begun to understand how capitalism and colonization are not just neutral systems, but how harmful both are, both personally and to our society. I appreciate you interacting with and dismantling systems that provide you “comfort” and privilege because you’re realizing that they don’t actually provide comfort or hope.

By: Brandon Bleek

Brandon Bleek — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 00:31:58 +0000

Wow, Josh. Thanks for sharing. I just want you to know that I feel honored to hear your story and be invited into your journey this way.