beyond the feast

Dear friends,

Thanksgiving arrives again here in the United States, and with it, a familiar tension for many of us: the longing to gather, to give thanks, to share a meal with people we love—alongside the weight of knowing the genocide this land has witnessed, and the stories the dominant narrative leaves untold.

As challenging as it can sometimes feel, I don’t think we need to resolve this tension. I think it’s possible to stand in the liminal spaces and hold two things at once: the grief and the gratitude, the reckoning and the reunion, the pain of what was and the possibility of what could be.

With this in mind, I wanted to share a few pieces from the past year that have helped me sit with and reflect on many of these tensions. The common thread explored in these pieces is the land, our shared humanity, and what it means to belong. I hope these pieces offer you opportunities for reflection as you gather (or choose not to), as you cook or travel, or as you simply pause.

the weeping grove – a creative documentary told as a mythological tale in nine parts, personifying the land and imagining its memory of colonialism’s arrival
the theology of hunger – on strategic starvation and the need for a moral framework that acknowledges our interdependence
the cartography of displacement – on identity and belonging and carrying multiple geographies in our bodies
the bridge between “us” and “them” – on bridging the distance between head and heart to create hope
grace as a revolutionary practice – on compassion, understanding, and shared humanity

I also wanted to share that this month marks one year since I launched /rōot/ by dimple dhabalia. In that time I’ve published 134 pieces, facilitated 2 community writing challenges, and watched this community grow from zero to over 800 of you. I wanted to take this opportunity to express how deeply grateful I am for your presence here, for your ongoing support of my work, and for your willingness to explore the questions and hard truths we’re collectively facing. I look forward to being with you all in community more often in the new year, and returning to more regular writing again.

Until then, I wish you all a safe, healthy, and restful Thanksgiving and holiday season that holds space for all of it—the sorrow, the sweetness, the memories, and the meals.

In solidarity + gratitude,