Hello Beloved Community,

It might feel daunting to think about emergency prep in addition to everything else you have to think about everyday. What if you considered it a gentle act of love for your future self and those you hold dear? No matter where we tuck ourselves in at night, whether in the heart of a bustling city or under the wide-open skies of the country, mother nature will do as she does. Being ready is simply one’s way of keeping our community safe and snug.

There is a special kind of quiet peace that settles in your heart when you know your “go bag” is ready. It’s not about living in fear, but about making space for the other stuff that you want to be thinking about. Knowing that if the winds howl or the waters rise, you’ve already taken care of the basics is not as small a thing as it might seem.

Hurricane season now starts at the end of July, there are wildfires and floods in places there didn’t used to be. Preparing once a year for what might come allows us to focus on what truly matters: looking out for one another and taking good care. Waking Giants has a lot of experience in supporting folks through disasters. We are here in your inbox today as your seasonal PSA to remind you to get your go bags together.

Onwards, y’all.

Sera Bonds, MPH

Waking Giants

Austin Texas

JUSTICE OFFERING

Invest in and ENJOY this independent media source, The Bitter Southerner. Pieces about art, food, music, politics, and nature, all through a Southern lens. It’s glorious.

The Bitter Southerner

JOY OFFERING

I recently read an incredible book about all of the ways that creatures on planet Earth are Queer. Not weird or wacky but Queer. For example, some intersex slugs mutually fire calcium carbonate “love darts” at each other during courtship. Give it a read, your mind + heart will be broader for having done so.

Forest Euphoria

Waking Giants is collaborating with co-hosts around the US to host gatherings where guests will leave the party with a Will. These gatherings will be low-key events where guests will be fed and watered while cost sharing to ensure that everyone present leaves with a legally viable Will. Tickets will be limited and details about the location will be provided closer to each event.

Join our September brunch-style gathering for ATX-based community members (that’s you!) and let’s get this adult, admin task checked off your list.

Join the Party!

SHABBAT SUPPER CLUB

Shabbat Supper Club exists at the intersection of two social crises: the crisis of belonging and the crisis of public safety regarding antisemitism. Shabbat provides an invitation to slow down, unplug, play, rest, and connect. We’d so enjoy your joining in the fun, we hope to see you there!

Our September gathering is sandwiched between Rosh Hashanah + Yom Kippur so we will be doing a bit of blending of the two holidays at our event. No pressure, you need not have any previous experience with the fall Jewish High Holidays to join us and take part.

Shabbat Supper Club

DAILY WRITING PLAYTIME

Looking for a way to pull your focus each day through some quick + thoughtful writing? Awesome! We’d LOVE to share our daily writing prompts with you. Become a paying subscriber to this newsletter on Substack and then sit back and wait for the fun to arrive in our inbox or Substack feed each morning.

Subscribe now

PLAYLIST AS LOVE NOTE

Pulling focus: tunes to inspire focus, presence, and care.

List three things you are excited to do this weekend, even if they are just naps. Especially if they are just naps!

Onwards, y’all.

Read more

What is one mistake you made in the last year that actually taught you something valuable?

Onwards, y’all.

Read more

What is an area of your life where you want to walk with more confidence?

What is something you can to for yourself today to bolster that confidence?

Onwards, y’all.

Read more

Everything has a seasonality, everything. Cycles open, close, and move through their ups and downs. September brings us closer to fall and the light starts to shift.

What seasons of life are shifting for YOU? Name one that is opening, one that is closing, and one that you aren’t sure about.

How does all of that feel for you?

Onwards, y’all.

Read more

Look out your closest window. Describe what you see as if it were a magical, undiscovered land.

Onwards, y’all.

Read more

Hello Beloved Community,

We’ve arrived at the end of July which for most of the folks reading this message will mean that you’ve been sweating sometimes when you didn’t mean to, working while dealing with kids on summer vacation, and nursing at least one pesky bug bite/rash/sunburn. Most of us reading this live in a country that values productivity over personhood every minute of everyday and, well, that is exhausting on so many levels especially, it feels as I write this, in the summer. Here in the US we are told that wealth, being rich, equals having a lot of money specifically, it seems to me, in relation to others who have less. Increasingly we are told that being rich is about economic status and that is a singular goal we should chase with pride, commitment, and diligence. Our whole life long.

I believe that money makes life easier and I know that wealth is so much more than money. The reality of what wealth feels to me as an adult is so simple right now in this chapter of my life. It certainly feels like being able to pay our bills, so let me get that out of the way. And it feels like rest, like health insurance that covers all of this middle aged body madness, like being able to pay for a friend’s dinner, saying yes when asked to donate to something that matters to us, and like being able to make time to play with my people. Wealth feels like a day off from work that doesn’t stress me out economically. It feels like being able to give, receive, and exhale. Luxuries, all. I know.

Most of us on planet Earth do not have an unlimited amount of economic wealth therefore we do not have a wild abundance of leisure time or PTO from our paid jobs. We know all too well what this feels like as Americans, especially in the summer months when we’d like to be, you know, resting with our feet up on a summer day as the weather beacons us to close the laptop and go play. The US is the only economy at our scale without a federal requirement for paid vacation. We leave this up to employers and well, most of us don’t get to work for folks who want us taking off more time. US companies average 10–15 days and I don’t have to tell you that that is not enough. The UK mandates a minimum of 28 statutory days off per year, Germany legally guarantees 24 days of paid vacation, and France guarantees a minimum of 25 paid vacation days per year.

I don’t bring any of this up to make you, us, Americans feel bad. We are doing plenty of that for loads of reasons lately. I bring this up to remind all of us to take the days off that we DO have access to. Studies indicate that nearly 62% of Americans do not use all of their allotted PTO. Even more concerning, recent data reveals that nearly one-quarter (23% to 25%) of American workers do not take a single day of vacation or PTO throughout the entire year. Please please please take your time off. I mean really take it. Set that OOO, take slack and all of the work related messaging services off your phone (yes, I mean your email too), and let your colleagues know you are off the work related grid. The ones who really appreciate you will let you take your time off and not bother you. THAT, too, is wealth.

I share all of this about wealth and time off with our annual announcement that our Waking Giants newsletters will stop flowing on Tuesdays + Fridays in August. We will close our office for a long weekend, August 7-10. We are enjoying our summer Friday fun day schedule when we close at noon through Labor Day. These are actions I am so proud to take as a business owner. Giving our team time to live their best lives is wealth to me. Thanks for all that you do to champion our little ripple for good at Waking Giants, making feeling rich something that we experience everyday with you.

Onwards, y’all.

Sera Bonds, MPH

Waking Giants

Austin Texas

Summer Reading Challenge

JUSTICE OFFERING

It’s that time of year when families are struggling to pay their high utility bills due to extreme heat in Austin and around the world. Help a family meet that monthly payment and keep that a/c flowing.

City of Austin Utilities

JOY OFFERING

One of our go to guides for money, wealth, and health is Dana Miranda and her substack, Healthy Rich. Give it a read and see how your nervous system feels afterwards.

Healthy Rich

SHABBAT SUPPER CLUB

Shabbat Supper Club is an intimate membership-based community gathering that Waking Giants hosts monthly with a goal to bring our Jewish (and non-Jewish ally) community members together for connection, creativity, and celebration. Come see us for our July gathering. We’d LOVE TO see you!

Shabbat Supper Club

DAILY WRITING PLAYTIME

Looking for a way to pull your focus each day through some quick + thoughtful writing? Awesome! We’d LOVE to share our daily writing prompts with you. Become a paying subscriber to this newsletter on Substack and then sit back and wait for the fun to arrive in our inbox or Substack feed each morning.

Subscribe now

PLAYLIST AS LOVE NOTE

Ease: tunes to inspire an easy time moving through your day

What is a situation you are currently worried about that you can decide to stop worrying about for just the next two hours?

Onwards, y’all.

Read more

Who is someone you haven't spoken to in a while but are silently grateful for? Write them a mental thank-you note.

Onwards, y’all.

Read more

If you could frame one memory from the last week, which one would it be and what color would the lighting be?

Onwards, y’all.

Read more

Think of a fictional character you love. What lesson have they taught you about being human?

Onwards, y’all.

Hello Beloved Community,

One of my most sacred places is floating on my back in the dark in the middle of a lake on a summer night. When I feel far away from myself I cultivate this sensory experience in my mind, my breath slows. Water is my special place. A bathtub, a pool, a creek; just lead me there and I will be right as rain before too long. Summertime in Texas for me, therefore, is a buffet of such delights. Water is safe for me because I know how to swim. This is a skill gifted to me at a young age by the teachers of young kid swim classes in Fargo, North Dakota where my mom would deliver me each week until I was ready to swim on my own.

A frightening public health issue that I think about too much during the summer is that black and brown children face significantly higher risks of drowning due to limited access to swimming education. These modern-day dangers are rooted in a history of systemic exclusion and the segregation of public facilities. For example, during the expansion of segregation laws in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, African Americans were often barred from public parks and pools. This forced communities to pool their own resources to create safe spaces, such as Houston’s Emancipation Park, which remained the only public pool available to African Americans in the area until the 1950s. This long-standing lack of access to safe water and instruction has created a generational gap in swimming skills that continues to contribute to tragic, terrible water related deaths today.

Tankproof is a gorgeous organization based in Austin, Texas, working to dismantle systemic barriers to water safety and swim education. Recognizing that black children ages 5 to 19 are significantly more likely to drown in a swimming pool than their white peers, Tankproof proactively addresses this public health crisis by providing essential swimming instruction and resources to underserved communities. Their dedicated efforts are not only saving lives but also working to bridge the long-standing generational gap in swimming proficiency, ensuring that all children have the opportunity to build water safety skills, gain confidence, and enjoy the water safely.

When you are gathering later today, this weekend, this month to take in a local swimming hole I hope you’ll offer up some gratitude for the safety inherent in that experience for you and the folks you love. It isn’t by accident that some of us feel safer in those settings than others. Let’s do what we can to ensure that everyone has joyful, water-based experiences when they want them. Such an easy thing to do!

Happy weekend, Beloveds. Keep scrolling for some water-based play joy and justice offerings and info about the other stuff we are up to.

Onwards, y’all.

Sera Bonds, MPH

Waking Giants

Austin Texas

Summer Reading Challenge

JUSTICE OFFERING

Tankproof, an BIPOC focused org doing incredible work to teach all kids water safety in ATX. Show them some love.

Tankproof

JOY OFFERING

Online spaces telling us about the history of restorative, artful swimming spaces around the world? Yes please!!!!

Culture of Bathe-ing

SHABBAT SUPPER CLUB

Shabbat Supper Club is an intimate membership-based community gathering that Waking Giants hosts monthly with a goal to bring our Jewish (and non-Jewish ally) community members together for connection, creativity, and celebration. Come see us for our July gathering. We’d LOVE TO see you!

Shabbat Supper Club

DAILY WRITING PLAYTIME

Looking for a way to pull your focus each day through some quick + thoughtful writing? Awesome! We’d LOVE to share our daily writing prompts with you. Become a paying subscriber to this newsletter on Substack and then sit back and wait for the fun to arrive in our inbox or Substack feed each morning.

Subscribe now

PLAYLIST AS LOVE NOTE

We don’t need another hero: tunes to tap into our own sense of heroics, leadership, and showing up for others

What is one thing you do only for yourself that feels like a warm hug?

Onwards, y’all.

Read more

What is one question you have about the world that you usually ignore because it seems “silly”? (e.g., Why do cats knead?)

Onwards, y’all.

Read more

What is one thing that drains your energy, and one small way you can limit your exposure to it today?

Onwards, y’all.

Read more

Describe a mundane item on your desk as if it were a legendary artifact found in an ancient ruin.

Onwards, y’all.

Read more

Is there a “no” you need to say to someone (or yourself) today to protect your peace?

Onwards, y’all.

What is something that recently surprised you in a delightful, non-logical way?

Onwards, y’all.

Read more

Hello Beloved Community,

There is a unique, quiet magic in co-creating with friends, one that prioritizes the communal act of making over the final result. When we gather to paint, build, write, karaoke, play around in the garden, or cook, we are engaging in a shared vulnerability that strengthens our bonds. In these moments, the focus shifts from the product to the presence of one another, transforming the act of creation into a sanctuary where we can be fully ourselves, unburdened by the demand for perfection.

This restorative power is amplified when the outcome falls short of our expectations or fails entirely. Whether the painting is lopsided, the song discordant, or the project unrecognizable from our original vision, these imperfections are where true connection thrives. Once when we were hosting a Hanukkah party, our family of four decided to make an untested Jello mold respite for dessert for our 40 guests. In many ways it was a 100000% fail as the jello mold didn’t set and the unset gelatin made a big ole orange mess in our fridge. But our guests ate what we could salvage as it tasted like Jello and Jello is delicious. When we laugh at our collective mistakes or pivot through unexpected glitches, we dismantle the pressure to perform. These messy, unplanned detours serve as a reminder that our value lies not in our productivity, but in our shared humanity.

Ultimately, the joy found in making stuff together acts as a powerful antidote to the often isolating pressures of modern life. It grants us permission to be human, to be playful, and to simply exist in the same space without needing to justify our output. By embracing the unpredictability of co-creation, we cultivate a resilience that spills over into our friendships, leaving us feeling lighter, more connected, and profoundly reminded that the best things we build are often the ones we never planned to make.

Keep scrolling for some wildly joyful examples of friends who made stuff together. We have our last Shabbat Supper Club of the summer coming up in July and we’d love to see you there, if you are in Austin.

Onwards, y’all.

Sera Bonds, MPH

Waking Giants

Austin Texas

Summer Reading Challenge

JUSTICE OFFERING

A summer camp where Palestinian and Israeli kids find their way to friendship together. Yes Please!!!!

Youth Peace Camp

JOY OFFERING

Earth, Wind, and Fire was a band of friends who made some magic together. Check out the newish documentary about this force for joy and I dare you to not dance.

Earth, Wind, and Fire Doc

SHABBAT SUPPER CLUB

Shabbat Supper Club is an intimate membership-based community gathering that Waking Giants hosts monthly with a goal to bring our Jewish (and non-Jewish ally) community members together for connection, creativity, and celebration. Come see us for our July gathering. We’d LOVE TO see you!

Shabbat Supper Club

DAILY WRITING PLAYTIME

Looking for a way to pull your focus each day through some quick + thoughtful writing? Awesome! We’d LOVE to share our daily writing prompts with you. Become a paying subscriber to this newsletter on Substack and then sit back and wait for the fun to arrive in our inbox or Substack feed each morning.

Subscribe now

PLAYLIST AS LOVE NOTE

Playtime playlist: tunes to inspire some play just for the fun of it

What is a meal that reminds you of “home” or safety? Describe the smell.

Onwards, y’all.

Read more