Hi, Reader

I'm writing to you from Willemstad, Curaçao, where we arrived on March 10th.

The truth is that while it is beautiful here, it is incredibly dystopian. Everything is built around people who, for the most part, arrive and leave on the same day. The economy in Curaçao — like many other Caribbean islands — would collapse if it weren't for the cruise ships. However, this intense dependence on tourism creates a very bleak living experience for locals.

Living here is not cheap, and food is very expensive. It's hot and humid, and with climate change, this place will be unlivable for humans once the trade winds stop. Can you imagine being born and living in a place where nothing is really built for you? Where the single-day experience of random tourists with money is more important than your everyday lived experience? It's dehumanizing.

So, while this island is certainly beautiful, learning about what life is like here has brought me far more sadness than joy. And I think that is an important experience. Living life in other lands isn't supposed to be some carefree, paradisical experience all the time. It's important to be exposed to tourism's dystopian realities and their real effects on people's lives.

Announcement: I Am Leaving Organized Humanism & Ethical Culture

The rumors are true: I am leaving Humanism & Ethical Culture at the end of July when my Secretary term with the American Ethical Union ends. The truth is that I have given away too much of myself to these organizations only to be mistreated time and time again, which has taken an extreme toll on me and my closest relationships. I'll be withdrawing my membership not only from the AEU but also from the Ethical Society of St. Louis.

I'm looking forward to taking a break from serving organizations for the first time in my adult life. I will use that time to write my book about my experience within organized humanism and Ethical Culture so that others like me can avoid the trauma and suffering that I have endured by serving these organizations.

Please understand that this was not an easy decision for me. After all, I have been serving this movement for over half my life and have multiple Ethical Culture tattoos on my body. I have already heavily grieved the loss of a community I thought I belonged to, and at this point, I'm ready to move into the next phase of my life. Thank you to everyone who will continue to support me in whatever comes next.

We leave Curaçao on the 27th for LA, where we will be attending a wedding and spending time with friends. Then, we'll be off to Oaxaca.

Thanks for following along with me,

Writer | Marketer | Activist | Humanist | Digital Nomad

​