June 2020 Currently: Times Are Tough, But So Are We

Posted June 3, 2020 by shooting in Personal / 29 Comments

I’m linking up with Anne for Currently and Kristen for What’s New With You?

Currently: June 2020

It seems like so much has already happened in 2020, and that it can’t get worse, and then it does. I’m sure all of us are dealing with a lot of emotions and thoughts these days. I imagine most of our answers for these prompts will be similar, but I also want to keep it light here and there too.

Currently/What's New With You (June 2020): Times are tough, but so are we. Black Lives Matter. Pride Month. Let's Get Beyond Tolerance! Click To Tweet

Feeling: Overwhelmed. Heartbroken. Anger. Sadness. I honestly can’t put into words how I feel about what’s happening across the United States. Police brutality is not new. The murder of innocent men and women of color is not new. Racism is not new. As a white person, it can be hard to know what to say or do, but as allies, we have to do our best. Keep listening. Keep learning. Support Black authors. Support Black companies. Support Black voices. Donate when and where you can. Call and send emails. Confront racism and white privilege online and in person. Do what you can – when you can – always and forever. This isn’t new and we can’t forget about it in a month, or until the next Black person dies. Tell me – how are you feeling? How are you talking about, thinking about, what is going on? What are you doing to give back and support?

Wearing: My bathing suit! I went swimming for the first time this year yesterday. I am extremely lucky that I have an above ground pool at my house. I’m also lucky that we were able to get a new liner for it this year since we couldn’t use it all last summer. With COVID, I’m really not going anywhere or seeing many people, so it’s a welcome “escape” if you will.

Buying: Way too much online. To be fair, I’m buying more for other people than I am for myself. Right now I’m looking into black owned businesses and trying to support them where I can. If you have any recommendations, let me know in the comments!

Craving: So many things. Serious and not so serious. I crave acceptance for everyone, peace for everyone, love for everyone. I crave seeing movies in the theater, watching plays and musicals live, being with friends and family and not being afraid to get too close. I crave safety and freedom for LGBT+ people and people of color. I crave the answers to big problems, and I crave the ability to make a true impact. The not so serious things will come in time, but the serious problems of the world? I crave, and I fight, and I go day by day, doing what I can. I turn craving into actions and words, and I hope, and I pray, and I believe.

Discussing: Obviously I’m discussing Black Lives Matter with everything going on in the United States, but I’m also discussing Pride and LGBT+ people, as June is Pride Month. With COVID, it’s a very different sort of Pride Month, but it’s still important to talk about. I know a lot of people on Instagram are trying to highlight books by and about LGBT+ people of color and I love that! I shared some LGBT+ books (YA and Adult) that I want to read on Monday, if you missed it!

***

Before You Go-

One of the places I donated to is Community Bail Funds. You can have your donation split between all the funds across the U.S. or you can choose the specific ones that you want to help. I also donated to the NAACP. I’m going to keep donating when and however much I can, but I thought I’d share this resource in case anyone was interested in donating or spreading the word about the various bail funds available.

29 responses to “June 2020 Currently: Times Are Tough, But So Are We

  1. I was actually feeling sad that Pride month is being overtaken by other causes at the moment! I should do something to support LGBT+ people as well. I love what you’ve said here about everything going on. And I’m so jealous of your pool!

  2. I think we are all feeling lost, angry, bewildered, frustrated, on the verge of tears, and worn out these days. If we are not actively speaking out against racism, we are giving our tacit approval. You are exactly right – we need to confront it online and in-person.

  3. This has definitely been an overwhelming week. As a gay man, I know some of the prejudice that the world can show, but this violence is on a different level. We all have so much to learn, discuss, and most importantly act on. As a blogger, I’ll continue to use my platform to share the voices of the unheard. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and giving some ways for us to act!

    Ethan recently posted: Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner
  4. I’m wearing a bathing suit too AND IT’S A TWO PIECE. I just have some weight to go but I’m feeling really good in my skin, it’s a really amazing feeling.

  5. I’m feeling all of those things too – it’s a lot, but I’m happy people are talking about it in their posts today. And I appreciate that you shared some concrete things you have done, like the donation. That definitely helps spur action.

    On another note, yay for bathing suit and pool time! Hope you have a fun and summery June. And happy Pride month too!

  6. I am with you on all those feelings, and I think you summed them up really well. I am also thinking more deliberately about what to do next, and how to support the Black population where I live.
    Also, pool time sounds so fun! It got hot here all the sudden this week so hanging out by a pool sounds amazing.

  7. There are definitely a lot of feelings going on this month. That is awesome that you guys have a pool that you can enjoy at home. I have noticed that a lot of outdoor activity items in general are selling out everywhere with everyone spending so much time in their own yards.

  8. Yep – if I had a pool, I really would never leave my house… not like I am anyways right now šŸ™‚
    I usually have a delivery every single day šŸ™‚ I feel that online shopping

  9. I donated to that one, too! And I made a recurring donation because I feel like once the initial protests and such wind down, people may forget a bit and they’ll need it more than ever. I agree with you, I worry that because we as humans will move onto the next (probably horrible, since that is what 2020 has to offer) thing, it’ll be pushed to the background again and it CAN’T BE. Especially because for black people, it never stops. They never get to stop living in fear, of experiencing racism.

    I am glad you have the pool for an escape! I go to my parents’ pool a lot with the kids, it’s a good way for them to get out all their energy and such! And glad that you are finding ways to talk about Pride month, and even lighter stuff, in the midst of everything. While I think it’s beyond important to put (and keep!) BLM at the forefront, having other passions and causes is important too!

    Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight recently posted: Reviews in a Minute: June 2nd
  10. You’re so lucky to have a pool! One of my friends who lives in my town just asked for recommendations on above pool installation and I was like “We’re getting a pool?!” Haha! I’ve been making purchases for others more too. Thanks for sharing that resource!

    Dani recently posted: Prime Purchases
  11. I wish I had a pool. My aunt and uncle do, though. And so do K’s. So we swim there when we’re invited/desperate enough to crash their backyards. Lol

    The world is nuts. I feel so stress out about it. And I know I can do better about supporting and lifting the rights and lives of black people and people of color. Same with the LGBTQ+ community. So that’s what I have to focus on so I don’t go nuts. I am definitely planning to donate to bail funds and purchased from black-owned bookstores!

    Audrey recently posted: Coffee Date
  12. I was waiting until my refund from my old mortgage finally got to me so that I could donate to some causes, so now I can start doing that. It is definitely an emotional time right now. I have been happy to see most of the protests being peaceful and our mayor even went walking with some of them one night and has gone back and stopped and talked with them on other days. I just hope that we can finally get some things changed.

    Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature) recently posted: Blog Tour Review: Cheesy on the Eyes (Slice #5) by Teagan Hunter
  13. Bri

    Ohhh, your pool sounds dreamy right now. I would love to have one at the house, especially this summer when it looks as though things at our public pool will be a bit different.

  14. Jen

    We went away to a cabin for a few days and I was truly glad to escape. I am not visiting social media right now, because it’s just such a mess. I like though your message of hope and of positive ways to help .Thanks Lauren!

  15. I think we’re all feeling overwhelmed right now.
    Jealous of your pool! Although it’s raining here now so not really pool weather. It definitely was last weekend though!

  16. SMD

    Amen, we need to confront racism everywhere, starting within ourselves and then in all of our spaces.

    Hurrah for an up and operating pool!

  17. Emotionally, I have been right there with you. Lauren. I do hope change for the better comes out of all of this and not just empty promises and platitudes. And you are right, it can’t stop. We have to be invested in this for the long-term.

    I am glad you are able to go swimming! I often wish we had a pool this time of year.

    I hope you are having a good week. Take care and stay safe and well.

  18. I’ve been feeling a lot of the same things as you this month… I’m so tired. 2020 feels like it wants to be noted in history as almost apocalyptic. I’m overwhelmed, I’m scared and I’m so so sad. I would say it can only get better but I fear it’ll get worse before it gets better.

    I’m glad you can use your swimming pool. It’s the little things like that that keep people sane at the moment!

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