My positive development this week is that I've booked my next trip to Ukraine (3 April). I'll hopefully be volunteering in Kramatorsk with Ukrainian friends, but that depends on the security situation. Otherwise, we're definitely taking building materials to Kherson oblast, and I might end up volunteering in the Zaporizhzhia community and blogging to fundraise.
Thank you for your work on 20 Days in Mariupol. One of my friends from there is also a filmmaker, but a more experimental one. He made a short about some of the people who did evacuations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NssYa-ZwIsI&t=446s
“20 Days in Mariupol” was the hardest documentary I have ever watched. This war is such a horror. My heart aches for all the people in Ukraine. All this slow walking of weapons to Ukraine and delays in providing the weapons they need on time is a crime as well. I'm ashamed of my country (U.S.) We could have done more sooner. Ukraine has paid a heavy price in this war. We are still with you and we will be until Ukraine wins. Slava Ukraini!
Thank you for watching the film, Sonia! And thank you so much for your support. People like you give me hope that the world hasn’t given up on Ukraine.
I guess the main positive thing for the mood at the moment is that spring is slowly starting to break through with double digit temperatures here and there (in celsius) and more sun.
I must also admit that I enjoyed the news of the Russians fighting on Ukraine's side, doing their "visit" across the border to their home country, to at least sour the corrupt election process a bit.
Macron talking big against russia also felt good, although I'm still hesitant to applaud it completely until we see some more urgency and action in the decision making.
Oh and it helped on the mood that F.C. Barcelona advanced in the Champions League (soccer/football), after a lot of misery in the recent past.
I agree that spring weather brings a more positive mood. I love flowers, and whenever I see a new one popping out, it brings me so much joy and peace. My phone gallery started to look like a garden, as I have taken so many photos of flowers recently, but I love it.
The news about the Russian battalion who went to Russia cheers me up a bit, too. I saw lots of memes about Macron on Ukrainian Twitter, and some made me laugh a lot. Of course, we need actions, not just words, but even these words lifted our spirits a little.
My husband loves football (and I mean soccer, not American football), and I can understand how much joy can bring a long-awaited advance of the favorite team.
Again, thank you for sharing! I wish all of us to have more reasons for happiness than for despair.
I'm loving the recipes from your family, even though I haven't had time yet, I am printing them out and they look delicious! I am so sorry to hear about the negative reactions to the film, but I think it's amazing and the work you did on it is also incredible. Don't stop moving forward, always! Let go of those who don't support you and bring you joy. Spring is on the way here, although the weather today is very wet and cloudy. The daffodils are in bloom and the crab apple tree is about to bloom. We all must stay positive to offset all the negativity in the world. We also need to express our feelings, no matter how down we get. Keep sharing and cooking and getting into nature, Darya!
Wishing you more peaceful moments in coming days, weeks, months and years Darya.
I have had a bit of a difficult week - drove to a different city to help shift my 91 year old aunt into end of life care - but it does mean I got to spend time with my parents and eat my mother’s (my aunt’s baby sister) lasagna - sometimes the small things help with the big life things.
I hope your aunt will get all the care she needs at this point in life. I imagine how emotionally hard the whole situation was. I’m glad you saw some good things that came from it, such as a visit to your parents and your mom’s food — these are the moments that our lives consist of, and that make it more tolerable during difficult times.
Congrats and condolences. I too had a recent bitter experience. I'll say it, IMHO there are elements on the political left that come across as elitist. It is a different form than the Hobbesian brand embraced by the far right. At both ends of the spectrum, the self righteousness their supporters wield is often cruel and merciless. The damage both ends of the spectrum is real and makes people bitter. I hate the MAGA crowd, but I understand some of their rage. I have always thought that the only real defense against the rich and the vain is for one to be more dynamic and articulate than one's adversaries. Of course, the essential ingredient for that approach to work is whether one fundamentally believes in our species worth. For me, the courage that Ukraine has shown the world in its struggles is the brightest beacon of why we little people should never surrender to those who profit from our Pavlovian induced indifference. In other words, to those who complained about their cause du jour not being allowed to share the limelight..fuck em.
Congrats and condolences are the right words, and I’ve never thought that they could be used towards one event, but life proved me otherwise.
The horseshoe theory is being proved every day, and I agree that these people poison everything and everyone with their absolute lack of empathy, hypocrisy, and thinking that the world revolves around their egos. I still hope that these people are the minority, but I can’t help but wonder how I managed to surround myself with them and allow some of them to get very close.
My positive development this week is that I've booked my next trip to Ukraine (3 April). I'll hopefully be volunteering in Kramatorsk with Ukrainian friends, but that depends on the security situation. Otherwise, we're definitely taking building materials to Kherson oblast, and I might end up volunteering in the Zaporizhzhia community and blogging to fundraise.
Thank you so much for all you do, Anna!
Thank you for your work on 20 Days in Mariupol. One of my friends from there is also a filmmaker, but a more experimental one. He made a short about some of the people who did evacuations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NssYa-ZwIsI&t=446s
Thank you! And thank you for sharing this documentary!
“20 Days in Mariupol” was the hardest documentary I have ever watched. This war is such a horror. My heart aches for all the people in Ukraine. All this slow walking of weapons to Ukraine and delays in providing the weapons they need on time is a crime as well. I'm ashamed of my country (U.S.) We could have done more sooner. Ukraine has paid a heavy price in this war. We are still with you and we will be until Ukraine wins. Slava Ukraini!
Thank you for watching the film, Sonia! And thank you so much for your support. People like you give me hope that the world hasn’t given up on Ukraine.
I guess the main positive thing for the mood at the moment is that spring is slowly starting to break through with double digit temperatures here and there (in celsius) and more sun.
I must also admit that I enjoyed the news of the Russians fighting on Ukraine's side, doing their "visit" across the border to their home country, to at least sour the corrupt election process a bit.
Macron talking big against russia also felt good, although I'm still hesitant to applaud it completely until we see some more urgency and action in the decision making.
Oh and it helped on the mood that F.C. Barcelona advanced in the Champions League (soccer/football), after a lot of misery in the recent past.
Thank you for sharing this, Michael!
I agree that spring weather brings a more positive mood. I love flowers, and whenever I see a new one popping out, it brings me so much joy and peace. My phone gallery started to look like a garden, as I have taken so many photos of flowers recently, but I love it.
The news about the Russian battalion who went to Russia cheers me up a bit, too. I saw lots of memes about Macron on Ukrainian Twitter, and some made me laugh a lot. Of course, we need actions, not just words, but even these words lifted our spirits a little.
My husband loves football (and I mean soccer, not American football), and I can understand how much joy can bring a long-awaited advance of the favorite team.
Again, thank you for sharing! I wish all of us to have more reasons for happiness than for despair.
Hey sweet Darya,
I'm loving the recipes from your family, even though I haven't had time yet, I am printing them out and they look delicious! I am so sorry to hear about the negative reactions to the film, but I think it's amazing and the work you did on it is also incredible. Don't stop moving forward, always! Let go of those who don't support you and bring you joy. Spring is on the way here, although the weather today is very wet and cloudy. The daffodils are in bloom and the crab apple tree is about to bloom. We all must stay positive to offset all the negativity in the world. We also need to express our feelings, no matter how down we get. Keep sharing and cooking and getting into nature, Darya!
Thank you so much for your kind words and support, Lydia! I hope you’ll try the recipes whenever you have time!
Wishing you more peaceful moments in coming days, weeks, months and years Darya.
I have had a bit of a difficult week - drove to a different city to help shift my 91 year old aunt into end of life care - but it does mean I got to spend time with my parents and eat my mother’s (my aunt’s baby sister) lasagna - sometimes the small things help with the big life things.
Thank you, Tanya. I’m wishing you the same!
I hope your aunt will get all the care she needs at this point in life. I imagine how emotionally hard the whole situation was. I’m glad you saw some good things that came from it, such as a visit to your parents and your mom’s food — these are the moments that our lives consist of, and that make it more tolerable during difficult times.
Congrats and condolences. I too had a recent bitter experience. I'll say it, IMHO there are elements on the political left that come across as elitist. It is a different form than the Hobbesian brand embraced by the far right. At both ends of the spectrum, the self righteousness their supporters wield is often cruel and merciless. The damage both ends of the spectrum is real and makes people bitter. I hate the MAGA crowd, but I understand some of their rage. I have always thought that the only real defense against the rich and the vain is for one to be more dynamic and articulate than one's adversaries. Of course, the essential ingredient for that approach to work is whether one fundamentally believes in our species worth. For me, the courage that Ukraine has shown the world in its struggles is the brightest beacon of why we little people should never surrender to those who profit from our Pavlovian induced indifference. In other words, to those who complained about their cause du jour not being allowed to share the limelight..fuck em.
Thank you, David!
Congrats and condolences are the right words, and I’ve never thought that they could be used towards one event, but life proved me otherwise.
The horseshoe theory is being proved every day, and I agree that these people poison everything and everyone with their absolute lack of empathy, hypocrisy, and thinking that the world revolves around their egos. I still hope that these people are the minority, but I can’t help but wonder how I managed to surround myself with them and allow some of them to get very close.
Wishing you plenty of beautiful, peaceful moments in the future Darya 💛💙
Thank you! 🙏