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The beginning of 2020 has proven to be a shocking and life-altering time –– definitely not what I expected to encounter during the launch of the decade. On top of our normal day-to-day stresses, we now must carry the weight of the world on our shoulders as a global pandemic travels across the United States and beyond. 

People are losing their jobs, which is the fine thread between shelter and homelessness. On top of that, I feel for the parents who must now find a new way to take care of their children during this time of mandatory school closures. And the most alarming of all, our family and friends are now at risk of the notorious COVID-19, also known as coronavirus.

The question is: how can we reduce the imminent strains leaking their way into our lives?  

Because this will be the case for the foreseeable future, it is time to investigate some relief methods away from our usual social outings, while staying unfaltering and sane. 

The central thought for anyone experiencing anxiety during this time is to 

Slow

it

down.

Of course this is a case of “easier said than done,” but it is critical to gain the skill of focusing on your breath and identifying the current moment. This will remind you that you have control, I know it may not seem like it, but you do. You can handle this, you just need to go at your own pace. We are not given more than we can handle and you will make it out.

Another thing to remember is to take note of your caffeine content. Try your best to keep your focus on drinking water at some point. Anxiety and the shakes do not mix well. 

Although it is important to keep up on the current state of the world and keep track of daily news, over consumption of anything can correlate to the health of your mentality as well. If the only thing you are reading about is negative, the level of stress and terror can reach a point of unhealthiness. The management and regulation of information media is especially necessary now.

The easiest reliever of them all, is to take a walk. Obviously, you do not need to have a pet to enjoy an endeavor outdoors, but I am sure your companions would love it nonetheless. Amidst all of the things we cannot do right now, walking is magically not on that list. Please maintain the 6-foot distance for your safety and others while outside. However, once you get into the habit of that, go ahead and enjoy the fresh air, after all, it's what nature intended.

The final action to note has everything to do with the truth that humans are instinctively made to work with our hands. It's one of our most precious senses – it helps us navigate our surroundings and understand the unknown. With this in mind, make some time to create something, anything, during this period of isolation. This is an opportunity to move away from your normal external forces and build something extraordinarily personal. Individual experiences are important to take note of and they remind us of the better days to come.

Take care of yourself: this is the lesson to ingrain at the end of this. If we are living a life of fulfilling purpose, nothing can take that away. 

Post by: Beauty Kussoy

P.S. Here is an interesting read from the New York Times, talking about turning stress into creation. Please read if you have 5 minutes :)

https://nyti.ms/39dHhss 

Are you a plant enthusiast who loves to read? Do you believe the world would be happier if there were more plants? Then you need to grab a copy of How To Make a Plant Love You by Summer Rayne Oakes. This book is perfect for any level of plant enthusiast, whether you’ve recently become interested in plants and are wanting to learn more or you’re a self-professed plant expert. Whether you have plant struggles, plant successes, or don’t have a clue about your plant care abilities but want to know more about how to care for plants, this is the book for you. Also, how could you not trust plant advice coming from someone with a name like Summer Rayne Oakes? 

If you’re unfamiliar with Summer Rayne Oakes, I also suggest that you check out her YouTube channel here. She has hundreds of detailed videos that offer great tips on how to water your plants, how to deal with pests, as well as information on fertilizing. She recently finished a series of videos, entitled 365 Days of Plants, in which she posts a video about a different plant every day of the year! There are some exceptionally unique plants that I never knew existed, like the Begonia masoniana or the Iron Cross Begonia, which has leaves that look like the skin of a toad!

Summer Rayne Oakes is not just one of my favorite YouTubers and fellow plant enthusiasts, but she’s also a great writer. I have absolutely fallen in love with her book How to Make a Plant Love You, which was a gift from my boyfriend. I haven’t finished the book quite yet, as I am an incredibly slow reader and also like to read multiple books on rotation, but I can already tell you it is worth grabbing a copy for yourself to dive into. What makes the book so exceptional is that it’s not just a quick how-to book that offers information anyone could obtain by doing a quick Google search about plants. This book is much more philosophical, perhaps even more spiritual than that. 

In the first few chapters, the book delves into the mental, physical, and spiritual benefits that plants can offer humans. Oakes talks about how magical plants are and offers some pretty mind-blowing facts about plants. For example, Oakes presents some stunning information from studies that have shown that designated spaces for greenery in cities, such as community gardens or parks, can improve residents’ mental health by reducing their depression by 40%.  From the minute I started reading the book I got chills because I knew this book was much more than just fast care-tips for plants. The book is about how our relationship with the earth and the various life forms on it is so deeply intertwined and reflective of our relationship with ourselves and others. I believe that Oake’s philosophy is that through learning to care for plants, we can learn to care for ourselves, and in turn, everyone else much better. This is a book about relationships as much as it is about plants. I find this book to be revolutionary in that way, which is why I encourage everyone, including non-plant enthusiasts, to pick it up and give it a read. It is much needed, especially during a global pandemic and with the increasing collective focus on racial justice, equality, climate change, and health. I believe this book can change our perspectives and give us new tools to utilize in improving our collective well-being on this planet.

The book also has the most charming monochromatic illustrations sprinkled throughout. The illustrations are by Mark Conlan, one of my new favorite artists. You can check out his work on Instagram @markconlan or on his website at markconlan.com. His work is colorful, whimsical, and heavily influenced by plants, perfect inspiration for the artist, and plant-lover alike. 

You can pick up an illustrated, hard-cover version of the book on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/How-Make-Plant-Love-You/dp/0525540288. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

I have work to do. Coming from a place of white privilege, I have a voice to raise about the injustices of the world. But now is not the time for my voice. I need to step back and let others speak.

I found a great list of ways to help on https://guidetoallyship.com/, some of which is included below. It starts with listening. 

THE DOS

• Do be open to listening

• Do be aware of your implicit biases

• Do the inner work to figure out a way to acknowledge how you participate in oppressive systems

• Do the outer work and figure out how to change the oppressive systems

• Do amplify the voices of those without your privilege both online and when physically present

• Do learn how to listen and accept criticism with grace, even if it’s uncomfortable

THE DON’TS

• Do not expect to be taught or shown. Take it upon yourself to use the tools around you to learn and answer your questions

• Do not compete for the gold medal in the “Oppression Olympics”—you don’t need to compare how your struggle is just as bad

• Do not behave as though you know best

• Do not take credit for the labor of those who are marginalized and did the work before you stepped into the picture

To this end, the library is promoting other voices by offering a book giveaway. We have identified five books by black authors that we will give to someone who creates a piece of art in response to recent events. Themes that your artwork could explore include racial justice, activism, allyship, the need for community, and more. Please see below for the contest guidelines.

The books include fiction and non-fiction, classic and contemporary works, and authors from near and far. 

• Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
• Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin
• Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine by Adrian Miller
• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

THE GUIDELINES

• No more than one entry per day

• Submission must be uploaded to the RMCAD app with the hashtag #librarybookgiveaway  or emailed to library@rmcad.edu

• The last day to enter is June 30th 

• The winner will receive an email and a box of books. 

Undoubtedly, 2020 has been a challenging and difficult year so far. We’re living through a historic pandemic that has upended our lives. We have all had to quickly adjust to online learning, and we’ve all been experiencing social distancing now for months. In addition to the pandemic, recent events, notably the horrific deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, have reminded many of us how far we still have to go to address systemic racism in this country. If you’re finding it difficult to focus on your work right now, you’re not alone. 

Feeling overwhelmed, lonely, sad, angry, and exhausted is normal, and to be expected. Continue to take time and space for yourself each day. Continue to create and share art. Continue to check in with others, even if it’s only via Zoom or a phone call. Maintaining relationships and connecting with people is important, now more than ever. 

It’s ok to reach out if you know you need help. In fact, reach out even if you don’t think you need help. RMCAD’s counseling team is here for you. The SLC is here for you. We can set up recurring, weekly appointments with a tutor from now until the end of the term. We will work with you to find motivation. You don’t need to struggle alone.  

Are you a student or staff member who is staying inside during quarantine, staying safe from the nasty monster we know as COVID19? Are you a student or staff who loves fantasy, story, and D&D?

SAY NO MORE!

I am here to share with you guys The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, a series made by the Jim Henson Company. The series is a prequel to the masterpiece movie The Dark Crystal released back in 1982. This show is all puppetry with 3D animation for the action or very dynamic shots done in a way that they still look like puppets!

There are 10 episodes total, each episode is 50+ minutes long. The story is incredibly rich and will hopefully will inspire many of you animators, illustrators or game artists out there for a new story idea or D&D campaign!

Check out the Dark Crystal Age of Resistance trailer below to see if this tickles your interest! 

CLICK HERE

Post by: Triniecia Harbor