Gather

A small manifesto for joy, care, and being human together

photo by Andrea Scher, Gathering colors in Oaxaca last week

Gather colors. Gather words. Gather your favorite people.

Gather the smell of jasmine on your walk and cut a tiny sprig of daphne and put it in a cup of water. Gather vegetables, maybe the ones you’ve never tried before, like sunchokes or bok choy or those long chinese broccoli you can order at dimsum.

Gather your friends and people who like to make things or write things. Read to each other. Tell each other stories. Remember you are not alone. Remember our fates are tied. That we are all in this together.

Gather yourself. And when I say gather yourself, I don’t mean to say buck up and look good and get ready to face the world. I mean assemble yourself, put together the disparate parts of you by putting a hand on your heart and saying, I’ve got you. I’ve got all of you.

Gather the dust bunnies from under the bed and the crumbs from the couch cushions. Gather a sunset by the water where everyone walks their dog and then gather some kisses from a doodle or a rescue pup named Rosie. Let them knock you over in their exuberance. Let them lean on you. Let them get your cute pants dirty.

Gather because that’s what we have. Gather because we are stronger this way. Gather because it feels right and good and sometimes all we can do. Gather in the name of joy. Gather in the name of goodness. Gather in the name of we’ve got each other.