This is a space where I want to keep track of inputs and outputs (can’t shake that social science training…) and the iterative process behind the two. I’ve become increasingly aware of how the inputs (a poem that changed me, a song that’s on repeat in either my ears or my head, our political and social contexts, the very process of human-ing) and outputs (woodwork, leatherwork, writing) fuel one another in an iterative manner. Reflecting on the inputs and the thoughts and emotions to which they give rise, helps me to contextualize the work of my hands, and that’s something I’ll occasionally process in this space.

I also think a lot about the act of creating with our hands and the role that such creation plays in our lives. For example, learning how to work with wood has increased my confidence in my ability to figure things out in a way that few other things have done. I’m much quicker to try new ideas, take a flawed idea in stride, and try again—whether in woodworking, research, home repairs, etc. To the extent that this might be true for others—particularly those who identify as women, nonbinary, transgender, and/or people of color—this raises questions of equitable access. As I learn more about the interplay between the left and right brain—and the role that creating and making play—I will also explore some of those topics here.

With numerous other (time-sensitive) writing projects, I imagine that posts to this page will be sporadic in nature, but I hope that some of these topics will resonate with you and look forward to sharing respectful dialogue and giving rise to new ways of seeing the world.