I am happy you are here. I appreciate you sharing these posts if you wish. They are all public and all free. I am following up on the last post to include the theme of joy. I will share a bit of my 2025 joy with you in this writing.
The previous post is found here:
I found joy this year at the Trans March, one of the biggest in San Francisco’s history. My intention coming out of the deeper lockdown of the pandemic was to find on-the-ground activists to organize with, and I did. I plan to post another bit of writing about one of those groups and urge you to join or be aware of Compton’s Coalition:
https://www.comptonsxcoalition.net/ They have taught me SO much! I am grateful.
How do we stay connected to joy when there is so much pain in the world? The image below is of our dog, Maverick, the brown chihuahua, flying across the beach.
Since my friend and co-keeper of the activist space suggested the topic of joy for our last meeting, I have been on the lookout for my own joy. (https://bit.ly/activistrestore2026) Join us in 2026 by registering on the link.
So, I looked up synonyms for joy: delight, happiness, satisfaction—and let’s also bring in the word pleasure. One might deduce that we can’t have one emotion without many others (cue the inside-out image). Grief, sorrow, unhappiness, and misery can come right in as we experience joy, pleasure, and delight. Can activist spaces help you find joy? I think so.
IRL activism has been on my to-do list since we started coming out of the pandemic lockdown, *knowing that many are still unable to move freely because we don’t all wear masks enough of the time.
This year, especially, I got a good bit of marching, connecting, and putting up signs announcing various activist activities. I also did more online activism than ever before. At many turns, I tried to offset my need for urgency, which comes from my conditioning as a white person and my discomfort with grief—but also, I think, my discomfort with joy. More on that later, but a lot of research has found that we as a species have trouble with the lighter emotions, especially in these times. It makes sense.
Other research, when planning our last activist support circle, found these two little bits of joy: a beautiful blog calling in our chosen queer community and ancestors.
blog - embracing-queer-joy-as-a-form-of-empowerment
I shared this last week, but here is another little nudge to listen and to let go of Spotify (I love Deezer—it was easy to port all my playlists over). Click to listen to a playlist for joy and pain, and to this Instagram post, where players from the Palestinian and Syrian national football teams embraced each other in celebration after a tie, qualifying both teams for the Arab Cup quarterfinals. The joy is palpable, and so is the pain right underneath. https://www.instagram.com/p/DSBPZUpjBog
Maybe you worry that if you have joy, you won’t be able to fight all that is happening in the world? Joy won’t get in the way; it will empower and help us keep moving.
Awe can be found in mindful photography, simple scribble art, obscured journaling, and laughing at silly jokes.
Image ID: an obscured journal piece in various colors with journaling all in a circle.
Somatic practices—like shaking, dancing, singing, stretching, breathing—can create the space for joy or perhaps even the feeling in its raw form. And nothing beats a hot shower.
In our activist circle, we spoke about the difference between grief and pain. I’m thinking about this handy equation: pain times resistance equals suffering (P × R = S). It is a good one to explore. Let me know how it goes. bridget@bridgetbertrand.com
Another joy hack: I have been using apps less lately, especially on my phone. With the United States in an autocracy/tyrannical slide, I have swung between needing to pull back from reading the news and diving in headfirst. I will also tell you, as a fun fact, I don’t watch a lot of news videos or “listen” to the news. Especially with the new empire pursuits (re: Venezuela), I will only read or look at what my activist friends online are sharing and read some stories from ground news.
If you have been on this activist/artist/healer/helper ride for a while, your Signal chat has already been blowing up. If you don’t know what Signal is or have it on your phone, all good. As many have said before, we all have our lane. I know all readers don’t consider themselves activists, so here is a little nudge to start.
Some have been signing petitions, calling Congress, writing Congress, etc. Maybe you have been in the streets. Maybe, like our family, you are in an ongoing boycott of places that give to the tyranny: Target, Walmart, Meta (I use their products but never pay them to advertise), Apple (won’t buy a new phone from them, might switch next time to a simple phone), Amazon (been done), Google (getting out of their products THIS YEAR!). I have never been a Microsoft, OpenAI, or Uber user. AI is a whole other post. I will never pay for it and only use it very selectively. I do use Grammarly and sometimes Claude AI to edit my writing.
Are you fighting in this way?
So, where is the joy, you may ask, Bridget?
Let’s keep digging into it! I hope you felt some of my joy here in this post.
In the new year, I will offer an ongoing Thursday meetup at 2 pm PST (https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html). I will be sure to give you space to check in, connect, and network (likely in 2-3-minute breakout rooms), and time to share with the larger group what work you offer. I’ll plan to keep this going through May. You can learn more and sign up here: https://bit.ly/queerconnection. All who own a small business are welcome!
If you want to get creative, I am offering space again on Tuesdays: https://bit.ly/creative2026 - we meet for an hour at 12 pm PST, and this is also for the healer/helper/queer business owner who needs space to land and get their own healing happening.
Curious about land acknowledgment? 🌱 https://native-land.ca/resources/territory-acknowledgement
Hope to see you soon—whether for action, rest, or both. 💛
Take care, and be gentle with yourself. Please share this info with a friend or two.
Warmly and in fierce solidarity and don’t forget the activist space; https://bit.ly/activistrestore2026
Bridget Bertrand (all pronouns)
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist CA LMFT 83020
Telehealth 100.0134497 VT, Telehealth TPMF1773 FL
Expressive Arts Facilitator - Creative Cultivator
📌 www.bridgetbertrand.com
📞 650-539-4325
📍 IRL in the Flood Building
870 Market Street, Room 953, San Francisco, CA 94102
🚗 Parking: 123 O’Farrell St (or enter via 71 Ellis St)
I pay land tax to the Bay Miwok. Reading about their history and flowing some funds through helps me feel connected to the land I live on and less in the dark about the genocide of the First People on the land where the united states is now.