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Hi reader!
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Welcome to the February newsletter! A special welcome to new subscribers, it is good to be together.
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This newsletter is late. I know. I drafted it ahead of a work trip and came back to the embarrassing and offensive words of the US administration toward President Zelenskyy. I am disgusted, and I'm sure you are too. . So, I wanted to share some ways you can help Ukraine:
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Reach out at Betsy@BetsyDeVille.com
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Meanwhile, the secular calendar is getting started for 2025. There are a couple of events in March I want to share:
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The Freethought Florida conference, FREEFLO is March 14-16 in Orlando at the Hilton Orlando! While I will not be attending, if you will be there, don't snooze on the silent auction. I have sent some donations that have not been featured in my shop. The auction benefits the Secular Student Alliance.
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Did you know there is a coalition of secular organizations? This March, The Secular Coalition for America will be lobbying for secular values in Washington DC. and they are looking for volunteers.
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Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, this cheeky t-shirt puts a skeptic’s spin on a familiar phrase.
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It’s an excellent conversation starter for like-minded individuals and a playful way to share your perspective.
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$25.00
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Last month, I wrote about being part of a secular community - about the value of being our whole selves with others while connecting with people who share our perspectives. This month, with Valentine’s Day on the calendar, and so much political uncertainty, I am thinking about how we can take care of ourselves.
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Valentine’s Day, with all of its romantic trappings has me reflecting on pleasure - what it means and how we pursue it.
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*How do you find pleasure for yourself?
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*What experiences bring you joy?
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*And does pleasure ever come with a side of shame?
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Growing up in a conservative religious household, pleasure was shameful and forbidden. We were not empowered with agency to pursue physical pleasure nor informed enough to make good choices. When people don't have agency to fulfill their needs, they may put themselves in situations where they are able to relinquish control to get the pleasure they seek.
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Yet, deliberately experiencing and savoring pleasure can help build resilience. Resilience that you might need in a fraught political climate.
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I've reframed my relationship with pleasure by thinking about my body from a biological perspective: we have countless nerve endings and neurotransmitters whose sole purpose is to help us experience pleasure and joy. And it would be a shame to waste that!
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How can you pursue pleasure? One way to think about it is to consider all of your senses. Think about what makes you feel good.
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*Maybe the neurotransmitters that get released when you laugh at stand-up comedy brings you pleasure.
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*Maybe sensual touch brings you pleasure.
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*Maybe visiting an art museum, a theater production, or live show brings you pleasure.
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*Maybe coloring or drawing bring you pleasure.
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*Maybe playing or listening to music brings you pleasure.
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*Moving our bodies can also bring pleasure. Hiking, and other forms of exercise not only can release positive endorphins, they also keep our bodies and minds healthy and strong.
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I'd love to hear your thoughts on pleasure and shame. How do you navigate this terrain?
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I'd love to hear your thoughts on pleasure and shame. How do you navigate this terrain?
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I am excited to launch another new product this month:
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Necklace features the word imagine on the silver sleeve and inside, no religion is engraved on the gold bar.
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$30.00
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Do you know someone who would enjoy this newsletter? Sharing is caring!
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