And then Russia Struck Ukraine...
The one where I round up the week telling you about what I was like to write about the Russian-Ukraine conflict, and a look at what is coming next.
Dear Reader,
When it came to explaining the conflict in the east, I wasn’t sure I wanted to do it.
(Turns out, the article and podcast spoke to you more than anything else I have ever produced, so I thank you all for reading, loving, and sharing my work.)
It was only 34 days after my husband had returned from his last deployment that the reality of what was happening to the east hit me in the head like a damn brick. We had to face the reality that while there were no orders to move, it could be a possibility given the conflict, and it could turn our lives upside-down with very little notice…again.
I wasn’t even ready to think about that, much less anything else.
I waffled between wanting to stick my own head in the sand, and wanting to better understand it so that I could better manage the anxiety that was building up in the pit of my stomach…aside from the fact the conflict makes great policy related material.
I kept playing “worst case scenario” in my head, because while we are here solely for Russian deterrence, it seemed a far off thought for the 3 years younger version of myself who moved here with adventure in her heart and beer in her hand.
That version of myself was before a pandemic, 3 major several-month-long no-contact lockdowns, a few separations, a rapid deployment, and the very real threat of another war, after we just pulled out of the last one…
Nothing seems all that far fetched these days.
It was an uncomfortable process writing and recording this post because in many ways I wasn’t just writing about some far off reality, but a truth that could very well belong to my household, and flip on it’s axis the very life of my greater military community. (The truth about being part of the military in a global-power country is that you are never that far off from a fight even if the fight isn’t yours.)
I know I have grown as a writer because I leaned into the discomfort rather than shying into my comfort zone, and that’s a pretty empowering thing.
What this post, and season of life has taught me is that I have no need to wonder anymore if I am on the right track (which like most humans I have wondered often), if I am making a difference, or if I should be somewhere else. I am doing something that serves our people in a very vital way. I suppose history proves time and again that thirst for understanding is the age old plight of being human.
I am leaning into my own calling - explaining the most fundamental thing that shapes how we experience life on earth, while also telling the story from a position less than 1% of people have ever experienced.
I used to resent this accessory position, for the way in which it is often shaped by policy shortcomings.
But then again, I also know that this accessory position is to thank for a lot of experience, and a lot of cross-cultural understanding.
Maybe work like this couldn’t exist somewhere other than this accessory position.
Maybe in fact, this seat was saved specifically for me.
Your Partner in Policy,
Taylor Patrice
To my military readers - We sit in a unique position where we understand how conflict can spread, evolve, and what the second and third order effects of conflict are. This is a stressful time in our community. Utilize your local resources, and remember you are not alone, in whatever it is you are experiencing, be it stress, separation, or one of the many fun other side effects of military life. If you are reading this and struggling to find resources, reach out, I’ll hook you up.
Just incase you missed the last few weeks of policy pieces focused on war as policy, and how this applies to current events, you will want to click below.
Next on the list is a few travel blogs and reworks for the podcast! I will be giving you some really cool policy solutions from across the globe with a bunch of pictures that will get you inspired to travel.
These easier-to-produce pieces give me a little bit of research leeway as I lay into the next biggest requested question - an explanation about why the cost of living is on the rise for Americans. You’ve asked if it’s resource shortages, Biden’s policies, or a third option we haven’t considered. This will definitely be an interesting and complex piece that I will be diving into for the next few weeks.
Lastly, a few of you have reached out asking how you can support the platform if not by signing up for a paid email subscription. A few ways you can do this are of course by sharing work that resonates with you, like, comment, and leave positive reviews. This helps the platform get greater exposure.
Additionally, I have signed up for Buy Me a Coffee which is a crowdsourcing way to support small writers. For the price of a coffee you can help support the blog without doing a paid subscription (which at this time won’t get you anything special because I don’t want this to be a paywall site, because the information is important for all of us). I prefer this way to the paid email subscription because it keeps access open to everyone. There is ZERO pressure to financially support the platform because I know how expensive life on earth is, but if you want to check it out…
Blog and Podcast: https://policyoutloud.com
FB / IG / TWITTER / PINTEREST: @policyoutloud
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…
Your Partner in Policy,