A New Blog & A Better Email
Dear Readers,
Our house has had the news on a nonstop loop. There’s a war out there and it might have our names on it. Watching to see how this all unfolds has been what my life has looked like for the last week.
It seems so wrong to be publishing a blog post about travel with a war going on - it’s not our war, but we are also not far from the fight.
It’s a scary feeling.
But not that long ago, a young Soldier asked me if I was nervous.
I paused.
Tell the Soldier the truth, that I'm scared shitless?
Lean into my own leadership, knowing full-well this Soldier was looking at me in part out of consideration, and part out of seeking direction? I’m young, but then I remember I have 12 years on this kid, and to this kid I am a “real adult,”… whatever that means.
I sometimes forget even as a non-green-suiter, people look at me for guidance in this life.
I looked to the sky…
When I was a little girl my grandfather used to take me to the beach. Confiding in my grandpa has always been one of God’s most comforting gifts I have been given in this life. I remember sitting on the beach, speaking some anxiety into the conversation that I was experiencing. My grandfather looked to the seagulls and he said, “anxiety is normal, but this moment, looking at the birds, this is no less real or important than the things we fear. This is still equally a part of this world. No less beautiful and no less important because there is something to fear.”
I looked at the Soldier still looking at me and pointed to the bird.
“I am anxious yes. I love this life fiercely and it’s scary when it feels threatened. But I look to the birds. This is no less real or important than the things we fear. Right now, it’s the birds I have in front of me. This is still equally part of this world. No less beautiful or important because there is something to fear.”
The Soldier probably thought I had totally lost my mind, talking about birds.
But here’s what I can tell you dear reader,
I turn on the news and I feel afraid. So do you. I know…ya’ll keep messaging me about it.
But I also feel hopeful, and proud, and angry, and inspired, and faithful, and curious, and frustrated, and tired, and admiration. I’m a lot of feelings these days.
But you have metaphoric birds too, and those are equally important and equally worthy of hope.
And more than anything, what I think is wildly cool is that should push come to shove and my husband has to go to war, I know I am sending him to people to fight alongside, instead of on behalf of, and for me, that makes a world of difference.
The Ukrainians, fighting for their land and having babies in abandoned subways is a stunning testament to willpower. The Ukrainian President refusing to leave and joining his people in the fight is leadership unlike what we have seen in recent years. Even simply asking for aid through weapon supply instead of foreign troops is a demonstration of grace under fire - refusing to escalate the situation in light of the firefight they have directly come under. Should the Ukrainians come out victorious, they will have set an example. Should they face defeat, they will have taught us invaluable lessons about life and humanity. The Ukrainians are a true reminder that the human spirit is not as fragile as bombs and buildings.
And they will have shown us the birds.
For this, I am so, so hopeful.
So I publish this post about travel, because like the bird, this is no less important than the thing we fear. Plus, I focus on some really cool policies that London has implemented to problem-solve a number of problems many large cities face…and they are working. Even in the face of a war that could spread, we still have a lot of other important work to do too.
The next post will be dedicated to how you can help Ukrainians, coming out as soon as I have that bad-boy completed. If you are itching to help right now, check the section below.
Your Partner in Policy,
Taylor Patrice
It was less than six months ago that I was working in a camp for Afghan travelers. As dejavu would have it, we are now looking at another humanitarian crisis spreading rapidly into Poland, and will be felt across Europe.
Six months ago readers helped to raise more than $1,000 which directly purchased hijabs, children’s shoes, children’s underwear, men’s coats, baby formula, and women’s hygiene products. We supplied hundreds of desperately needed items to the camp, because of your donations.
We are doing it again - this platform is directly connected to organizations in Poland who are in need of money and supplies for the rapid influx of Ukrainian citizens fleeing war. If you would like to donate so that these supplies can be directly provided on the ground, you are invited to send money via the Buy Me a Coffee App under “Crowdsourcing” on my page. If you do so, please indicate the intent of the money. I want to be clear - sending money to the blog via this app is 100% based on a trust and honor system, and if you are donating to help with supplies, 100% is given directly to aid. I am not an organization, or a non-profit. I am an individual that can access and send supplies easily due to my proximity to the crisis.
If this sketches you out (I totally get if it does) a few quick places to look to provide financial support are UNICEF, UNHCR, Doctors Without Borders, and Project Hope. I want to be clear, if you are worried that the money would in anyway be misused, you should not send money through the blog, and instead support one of these reputable organizations. I do not want to establish any sort of distrust between you and this platform. Click their links here:
You can also wait and see if any of the number of other ways you can help speak more to you in the upcoming blog. It will be focused on “how to donate thoughtfully,” with a focus on ways specifically to help Ukrainians.
Blog and Podcast: https://policyoutloud.com
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Email: Hello@taylorpatrice.com
See you soon! Thanks in advance for leaving positive ratings and reviews on the podcast channels and Facebook page if you love the content - it helps me grow because, well, algorithms…
Taylor Patrice