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How to Survive 2025: The Wild Honey Buzz, January Edition

Writer's picture: Wild Honey Blogger Wild Honey Blogger


Happy New Year and Happy Rev. Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. It feels weird to say Happy New Year since this year has not started very happily for millions of people and is especially sad today as many of us are grieving what could have been, wondering how we'll survive 2025, suffering from natural disasters brought about by a changing climate, the horrors of war, and the unbelievable gap between the obscenely rich and the impoverished. It feels like we are still very far away from the realization of Dr. King's dream as many of us wonder when the "arc of the moral universe will bend toward justice." I think acts of service on MLK Day are great ways of honoring his vision and legacy. In his honor, I've made a donation to the World Central Kitchen to support their efforts to provide food for those impacted by the wildfires in Southern California.


So how to survive in these challenging times is my focus for this year of blogging. I think it will take vigilant caretaking of ourselves and others at the community level with small postive actions within our capacity, and love, love, love. I will share articles and resources that I come across throughout the year. This one from Brainz Magazine has some good advice. I also like the ten steps listed in Laura Schmidt's book, "How to live in a Chaotic Climate" especially number one: Accept the Severity of the Predicament, and Trebbe Johnson's definition of acceptance in her book, "Radical Joy for Hard Times".... acceptance means that "I am now available to the entire spectrum of creative responses."


Step number six on the list of ways to live in a chaotic climate is "practice gratitude, seek beauty and create connections." I'm grateful that my book, In the Grip of Grace" which just celebrated its six month birthday in December of last year, is being considered for the Library of Virginia's 2025 Virginia Literary Award in poetry. The awards are given to authors who are native-born Virginians, are permanent residents of Virginia or who spent their formative years in Virginia. Wish me luck!


I'm also excited to be the featured reader at the Everett Poetry Night in Everett, WA during National Poetry Month this April! I'll be reading from "In the Grip of Grace" on Monday, April 7 at 7:30 PM. This is a wonderful event that I had the opportunity to attend on January 6. The featured reader that evening was Washington State poet, Jory Mickelson and I'm excited to read their new book, "All this Divide." Other poets shared their work during the open mic portion of the program which was really inspiring. Here are a few photos from the reading including a brochure announcing the line-up of featured poets in 2025. I'm honored and humbled to be featured alongside these wonderful poets as I'm familiar with the work of many of them. If you happen to be in the Seattle area, I'd love to see you in Everett on April 7!



Jory Mickelson reading from their latest book.
Jory Mickelson reading from their latest book.

Everett Poetry Night 2025 Featured Readers
Everett Poetry Night 2025 Featured Readers


I owe a huge round of applause and gratitude to the Vincent Brother's Review for publishing four of my poems in their Issue 25 which contains prose, poetry and art centered around the theme of ghosts! It is a truly beautiful publication and such an honor to have my poems appear in it! Here is a sneak peak at my poem, "Saipan's Suicide Cliffs" from the issue:



Many thanks to the editorial team at Vincent Brothers Review for including this poem in Issue #25
Many thanks to the editorial team at Vincent Brothers Review for including this poem in Issue #25

In keeping with the advice to "seek beauty" as a survival strategy, I'll end this post by sharing a photo of beautiful and fragrant hyacinths that I forced into bloom on my windowsill. "If you have only two loaves of bread, you should sell one in order to buy hyacinths." (Old Persian Proverb)



"But now you love a hyacinth. So much better. You have gained a new source of enjoyment, and it is well to have as many holds upon happiness as possible." (Jane Austen)


Going forward, let's follow the advice to "surround ourselves with individuals who uplift and support us during this challenging time" and distance ourselves from those incapable of doing so. I trust that you will find something uplifting and supporting in my blog posts this year as we forge ahead and not only survive but also perhaps manage to thrive (at least in some ways!) in 2025.


With hope and love,

Marianne (aka Wild Honey)






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