Refusing despair, sparking creativity, and wondering 'What if?'

Season 1, Ep 3 is here & honesty time. Today’s podcast is going to start out dark. But for anyone who pays attention to news in the United States, that probably won’t be a surprise. My husband grew up in the Minneapolis suburbs. I spent the better part of a decade living and working in and around Minneapolis. For my entire 25-year public health career, I was honored to have some of the most dedicated, kind, and brilliant coworkers and non-profit partners—most of whom are refugees, asylees, and immigrants. These last two weeks have been shattering and have left us feeling helpless as we have had friends-who-are-family sending dystopian updates from Minneapolis. But when I realized what I had planned weeks ago to re-share this week for my podcast, it felt beyond serendipitous. Last June, I posted Shifting Perspectives, which was the inspiration for this week’s Friday Finds Substack Live. 👇 In it I ask: What if we all took just a moment out of every day to pause, physically shift our bodies, and force ourselves to see the world from a different perspective? What might we notice from putting ourselves into an unfamiliar location? A place that makes us feel a little uncomfortable? A little vulnerable? Unlike adults, kids have an incredible ability to see beyond what something is to what something could be. I just wonder what actions, opportunities, and solutions are right there, just out of reach, because we are too comfortable in our own perspective. I have found that this is not only a good practice for helping to generate writing prompts, but it is also a fantastic way to open myself up to hope. The world suddenly seems much bigger, ideas more plentiful, and the way forward more multifaceted when I can literally see that not everyone experiences the world in the same way I do. So today’s podcast has two parts. The first is an excerpt of my reflection on shifting perspectives hanging out with my ducks. The second is my reflection from this past summer, speaking particularly with those of us in positions of power. May they both give you new ideas, encouragement, and most importantly, hope. If you’d like to see more of my writing, check out the rest of what’s available in Unicorn Hollow, and then subscribe to make sure you never miss a post! For centuries, artists of all disciplines have been kept afloat and creating by patrons who looked at their work and said, “Yes! This matters! This needs to be in the world!” If Unicorn Hollow gives you that feeling, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription for the cost of a fancy coffee or tea per month (and get some fun perks!). You can also support me with a one time donation 👇 Your support means everything to me and allows me to keep building out this space for us to create together! Writing is my career and every bit of support goes to feed & clothe my small army of children & animals. Thanks for being my unicorn! 🦄 Get full access to Unicorn Hollow at kkwildegiuliani.substack.com/subscribe