This newsletter was written while I was in Portugal but didn’t send (let’s not talk about that part) and now I hope this fuels you even more than it could have in November.

Table of Contents

• Use Your Rage To Set You On Your Way

  • Mourning Hope in Portugal

  • Love Wins

  • It’s Gritty at Ground Level and That’s Gorgeous

  • We Always Have Options even when it doesn’t seem l …

  • Dance It Out

Use Your Rage To Set You On Your Way

I spent the month Portugal with the intention to write intensely on the book I was hired to write with a trans client from Utah. What I did not expect was to fall deep, deep into dark places, my heart breaking for my many, many trans friends and colleagues, and for the near future of our nation. And then some surprising family news threw me into a deeper frustration. Hope fizzled in an instant.

A Portuguese friend gave me this advice one night just before my head hit my pillow:

Consider this newsletter as my attempt to invigorate our fiery hearts and rebellious community that needs action (after punching pillows and then crying into them).

Mourning Hope in Portugal

Wandering the cobblestone and Roman stone streets of Alpedrinha, seeing homes built into the boulders, it’s hard to ignore the history of a country that was invaded many times by many different people and freed itself from dictatorship in 1974. 

Take this to heart, dear friends. We can overcome more than we think.

And so many of us have already overcome so much trauma, trauma we might have in common. Let’s continue to create safe, inclusive safe for each other, and model healthy leadership. Look at how strong and beautiful we are when we team up.

Love Wins

Believe me, there is nothing more infuriating to the oppressors than watching us rise up above the smoke all glittery and glorious, radiating love and gratitude. Take it from young South Korean protesters. We are not going to let anyone cloud our shine. Yeah, I know, it takes a lot of phoenix fuel to regenerate from the ashes. Lucky for you, you know me.

I am in major recharging mode right now and if you thought I was exuding positive, electric, inspirational energy before? Just you wait. Actually, don’t wait. Reach out. Tell me what you need. Ask me a lot of questions. I want us to soar beyond our wildest dreams. 

It’s Gritty at Ground Level and That’s Gorgeous

If you feel like that Nude Descending a Staircase painting, I feel you. As someone who “phoenixed” several times in life, I’ve peeled myself off that bottom step, tended to the bleeding knees and bruised ego many a time. I feel like I’m still growing my new little phoenix feathers from the last pile of ashes.

Yet while pacing around a large round wooden table made by my friend’s neighbor, Manuel, in Alpedrinha, Portugal, seeing my book-writing stuff all over an adorable apartment, eating tangerines I picked from the upper garden, I realized I was living out a tiny shiny dream I had several years ago. Wild.

I can’t live in Portugal yet [insert expletive] [insert scream from the top of the Serra Estrellas]. And I don’t want to lose sight of what beautiful success we can achieve while the world burns. As a surfer friend would say, “If you look down you’ll fall down.” Keep facing your heart in the direction you want to go and you’ll naturally move in that direction. Grit works. Mission and Vision with Love work better. 

I’m going to offer a Mission & Vision workshop in January, so that any person or business who needs to revisit their purpose and direction can do so with me in a loving, fun and constructive way. It will be only $250 per session.

We Always Have Options even when it doesn’t seem like it

This is exactly what the Interchangeable Action Novel© helps drive home for the reader, regardless of how ridiculous, outlandish, or surreal the story goes. The bottom line is we have choices. Find the power in that for yourself. Consider these points to help you:

• Remember this is all temporary, and you deserve sustainable success.

• Remove yourself from those that harm you in work and personal life.

• Reach out to those who offer safety and align with your values.

• Vote with your dollar and boycott problematic businesses.

• Look into the support that will lift you towards your goals.

• Ask for help from good people before/when you need it.

• Send out the love and gratitude you want to receive.

• Dream up solutions with me.

And if all this sounds too exhausting right now, I get it. So I made you a mixtape to listen to with your headphones on while dancing around your home or office, so at least you can find a little joy and heart fuel.

Dance It Out

These songs span decades and several genres. It’s vulnerable, sharing songs with those you love. I’m not going to apologize. I’m just going to stand in the Portugal rain, holding up a boombox, wearing my cracked red Dr. Martens, and hope you enjoy it.

Hang in there, Loves.

Find me on LinkedIn and now on Bluesky @Waamscabam 

Thank you for your patience with me as I get over jet lag and reestablish myself back into American life.

Also, help me spread the love. Share this with someone who needs it.

Sending you all the love and good vibes I can,

Laura

Aka Wa’am