Filling the Gaps!
/Hey everybody! Happy Thursday!
If you’ve taken interest in our Gappers initiative, then you’re in luck! We’re unveiling practices in conjunction with each gap that we think will be helpful while you lean into filling the gaps. Small changes are super effective, so we hope that some of these will speak to you and you’ll give them a try. This list is not all-inclusive though! Maybe it’ll just act as a space of inspiration for you to come up with your own gap-filling experiments, and that’s awesome! YOUR capacity for creativity is humongous!
Good luck!
The Gaps and Their Affiliate Practices
local___global: This gap asks the question, “How do we foster relationships with our fellow humans on every scale of community that we are a part of, from the most local: our block, to the most global: our planetary home?”
Any of our 52 Weeks of Neighboring neighboring tips, which you can subscribe for here.
Tune in to world news.
Start to learn a new language.
Travel to new places while seeking to foster relationships with the people there and to learn more about the culture.
Donate your resources to both local and global causes.
consumers___producers: This gap asks the question, “How do we move from being primarily consumers, and consumers of resources that benefit few, to being primarily producers, and producers of resources that benefit all?”
The next time you think of buying something, ponder what it is you are actually seeking.
The next time you plan to buy something, ponder whether you can produce that thing instead.
Plant a garden with some of the food you would normally buy at a store.
Help form associations with neighbors around common interests, passions, or gifts.
happy___joyful: This gap asks the question, “How do we move from pursuing temporary happiness to embodying sustained joy?”
Ask yourself whether the thing you are pursuing will make you feel joyful.
Ask yourself whether the thing you are pursuing will make you feel a temporary happiness or a lasting joy.
being less busy___being more active
Schedule fewer things, but attempt to be more present in the midst of each of them.
Allow for more margin time between each of your scheduled events or to-dos.
valuing the past___being future-focused
Tell a current friend a story about a time before you were friends.
Text an old friend to check in and tell them you miss them.
Journal about your dream job. Go into detail, and don’t skimp on imagination.
Think big and fantastical.
Ask older folks about the past and their life experiences.
Celebrate various events of the past.
Grieve various events of the past.
Foster an open mind towards new ideas.
believing all people are inherently good___calling out injustice
Smile at someone before imagining what they must be like.
Gracefully invite someone into a conversation about their injustice. If you don’t know that person and if possible, try finding someone you trust who knows them to have that conversation with them.
Peacefully protest injustices.
Advocate for restorative justice and not retributive justice.
Advocate for prison reform.
Work to abolish the death penalty.
grieving what is lost___hoping for what could be
Meditate on both, recognizing that the same breath is present in the midst of both. Perhaps you even want to create a fluid mantra to speak through both.
When you’re ready to grieve, let your body feel it. When you want to hope, hope as if nothing could possibly go wrong.
Help create safe spaces where people can grieve.
violence seems to be a part of all of our lives___we can embody nonviolence, and further, ahimsa
Blow more kisses…(Behind masks, of course.)
Give more hugs…(Once it’s safe)
Jump into a pool, or off your porch, or off your couch, and take notice of the gift of your feet (your body) to use their power to stomp on ground rather than the unhealthy things you may want to stomp on.
Think about how your actions impact the lives of various living things.
Advocate for the banning of guns.
Research stories of nonviolent resistance from people like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi.
return to the activities we used to be involved in___value the quiet and restful lifestyle that has begun during the time of quarantine
Dedicate time to do something restful every week. Heck, maybe even every day!
If possible, get up every once in a while during work or school to stare out the window like a crazy person for a while. If that’s not possible, get up and do something silly to loosen your body up a little, like blowing raspberries in the air, rubbing your tummy, shaking your whole body, or doing a little jig.
doing what’s right for you___doing what’s right for those around you
Brainstorm! You don’t always have to figure everything out on your own. Ask the people in your context what they’re thinking.
stepping out of your comfort zone___leaning into a helpful routine
If you function best with lists or planners, switch something up or do something you enjoy before doing something you need to get done.
Take a break from your phone for a whole day (or whatever time period makes the most sense for you).
taking risks___respecting whatever boundaries are involved in the context
Start by just taking little risks like dancing in the street, trying out skating, or showing someone something you usually keep private, like your art, writing, or a secret skill.
seeking self improvement___appreciating the messy person that already exists
Actively forgive yourself when you make mistakes.
If you’re seeking greater physical health, cut one bad food out or add one good food in.
Smile at yourself in the mirror.
Laugh at yourself frequently.
hearing___listening
Ask a question before giving your opinion.
Ask someone to tell you something you don’t know about them.
Don’t pick up your phone during your conversations.
being self-sustaining___being vulnerable and asking for help
Ask someone to be your accountability partner on your journey to sustainability!
Ask others for help regularly.
Ask to borrow things from others.
letting yourself live in the bad feelings___actively pursuing joy and positivity
Don’t hold back the tears. Your vulnerability can be super helpful for someone else to see.
Share the good and bad with someone you trust. They can hold celebration and sadness carefully and close together.
Side-walk chalk. Enough said.
Just jam and sing out when you need to.
being content with what “is”___taking necessary action to make a change
Do your best not to seek happiness or value from material possessions.
Go through your clothes and get rid of some of them!
Do unbiased research before you advocate for something.
enjoying the Earth and utilizing the Earth’s various assets___actively caring for the Earth
Hang out outside as much as possible.
Seek to experience natural wonders.
Actively seek ways to address our current climate emergency.
Change your routine to reduce your carbon footprint and waste.