Esther | lifebyesther's Reviews > How We Show Up: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community

#gifted

This book taught me a lot about community, safety, and chosen families. Birdsong's charge that the American Dream is a false promise that encourages toxic individualism and "remains defined by whiteness and masculinity" in particular really stood out to me, because it makes so much sense. She also goes on to say that self-care shouldn't be about spending money and that self-care is actually revolution, especially for people who occupy the margins because "I can be more present for my community when I'm well rested and caring for my body." Reading both these points feel particularly poignant in this pandemic. The number of cases keep rising in the US because people refuse to let go of their individualism, and businesses reopen earlier than is safe because we can more about profits than lives. In addition, as we stay at home, many of us (myself included) have turned to online shopping, hoping to buy our ways to happiness. But quarantine is actually giving us the time and place to practice mindfulness, rest, and reflection.

The book started out really strong for me, but I wish there were fewer anecdotes about Birdsong's friends and more expositions on concepts.