Katherine Phelps

This was a question put to people in an online writers group I am subscribed to. Below is my answer. Artists sit in an odd space where they are both loved and hated. They can lift us out of our daily struggles, soothe our trembling hearts, say the things we want to say, shine a […]

Take a deep breath. Now take a moment to cherish all the kind, strong, and committed people in your life. They along with yourself are the league of ordinary people who can save us. Now go out and empower one another! In peace and kindness, Katherine

Our culture tends to worship the past and fear the future. We make statues to people who are gone, but fear the changes the future represents, and so tell stories about surviving a bad future where nothing about ourselves has changed. We need more stories where we represent ourselves as caring and mature people who […]

So many practical things we can do to repair our living world. So many things that don’t get done properly when people don’t connect with each others humanity, or every being’s desire to live and to thrive. “Funktionlust”, according to behavioral scientists, is the characteristic whereby animals enjoy doing the things which keep them alive. […]

We have many pressing issues that require international cooperation. Issues to do with the environment, pandemics, refugees, and more need to be addressed collectively by humanity. Having a body such as the United Nations is important for people’s ability to think of ourselves as in partnership for creating a more peaceable world. The United Nations […]

I believe in the value of human life in all its diversity.I believe in the value of our living world in all its diversity.I understand we live in a world that includes violence, cruelty, and unfairness.We also live in a world where peace and compassion have created change.From my experience the means by which you […]

I am seriously concerned going into 2021. I hope I am wrong. We seem to be descending into greater and greater hostility. My sense is that people are rightfully feeling endangered. However, their solution is to hit at easy targets rather than coming together to create culture change. For instance those who are suffering from […]

A friend made a comment this morning that resonated with me. “How is it that people’s minds are so fragile right now?” How is it that people we have known to be friendly and kind have slipped into hatred? How is it that people who were once willing to reach out a hand to those […]

Stand up to those who are behaving in harmful manners. Refrain from hating them…stay focused on the behaviour. Support and applaud those doing life-affirming actions. Do what you can to amplify the example of life-affirming action, so that it is seen more as the norm and thereby becomes more of the norm. Don’t worry so […]

I object to “nanny state” on the same grounds as I object to “throws like a girl” or “screams like a girl”. The formula is: “this is bad, therefore it is like a female because females are laughably low status.” However, as a metaphor “nanny state” is revealing. Traditionally, nannies have been servants in wealthy […]