An invitation: The Lifelong Activist

[Guest guest]

Hello animal advocates and vegetarians!

 

I am reading this great book right now called The Lifelong Activist by Hillary Rettig, who is a vegan/animal rights activist as well as a personal, executive, and life coach. At points, the book feels like it was written for me. It addresses so many things that I've struggled with as an activist. These are really things many adults struggle with to varying degrees--but things that tend to be bigger issues for activists, like managing our time (how do I decide which campaign or project to work on or how to spend my time as an activist), planning for the future (tough when you barely make enough money to live on at a nonprofit -- not exactly building up a 401k), feeling fulfilled in the work that we do (even if I sometimes do it to avoid feeling guilty for not doing it, and even if it's sometimes work I don't even want to do but do anyway because I care about the result, and even if it sometimes seems like just a drop in the bucket and never enough), creating balance so that I can enjoy my work but also take time to enjoy life without feeling guilty about it (spending the time or money), and more. Its intention is to prevent (or reverse) burnout and have activists be as happy and effective as possible. You can check it out at http://lifelongactivist.com/ .

 

I'm only about a third of the way through, but I love it and really see this book as a great resource for activists who may be struggling with various issues such as those mentioned above.

 

I think this book would be way more fun to read and DO with other activists or aspiring activists, and I think there could be some great discussions and who knows what else to come out of it. So... I'm starting a book club just for this book. My sense of how it would go is that we'd have a conference call or in-person meeting each week to check in as well as a]the weekly assigned reading from the book, as well as any other structures we create or agree to. You're all invited (though it might not work as well for everyone to be on the call!) You're also invited to pass this on to activists you know who you think might be interested.

Please let me know by Friday if you'd like to be involved. If not, thanks for reading, and thanks for all you do to make the world a kinder, more peaceful place! Also, if any of you have any suggestions for other practices or approaches you take to sustain yourself as an activist, please pass them on.

 

Love,

Nora

-- " The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. " -Gandhi-- " The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. "

-Gandhi