Riding the Policy Rollercoaster: Twists, Turns, and Takeaways

For the past few weeks, I have been navigating a familiar yet deeply unsettling storm. With the recent executive orders from the Trump administration, I found myself overwhelmed….frozen, even. The weight of it all sat heavily on my chest, the kind of pressure that makes it difficult to think, let alone act. It was a stark reminder of the past, of moments when policies rolled out not just as statements but as tremors, shaking the very foundation of communities like mine.

For the first week, I felt stuck. The news cycles were relentless, my body tense, my mind racing with thoughts but unable to land on a single one. I withdrew. I quieted down. My energy was spent just trying to process the waves of emotions, fear, anger, sadness, and an exhausting sense of déjà vu. It wasn’t just me; I knew many in my community were experiencing the same thing, a collective holding of breath.

Then, as the second week unfolded, something shifted. I began to process, not just intellectually but emotionally. I asked myself: What does my community need from me right now? And just as importantly: What do I need from myself?

I have always believed in the power of advocacy, but advocacy cannot exist without care, care for ourselves and care for those around us. In the face of injustice, our spirits need nourishment, our voices need rest between the moments of action. This is where The Restful Advocates comes in.

So, I am giving to myself and to my community. I am carving out moments of rest, not as an escape, but as fuel. I am offering space for reflection and collective processing. Today, more than ever, we need each other—not just to resist, but to lift each other up, to remind ourselves that we are not alone in this fight.

This is a call to action, but also a call to breathe. To pause, to grieve, to process, and then to move forward with purpose. The world needs us, but we need ourselves, too.

If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or exhausted, know that you are not alone. Take your time. Feel what you need to feel. And when you’re ready, step forward, whether that means holding space for someone else, joining a community effort, or simply resting so you can show up stronger tomorrow.

With love,

Rest is on the table

Welcome to this blog, a tender space for exploring rest, renewal, and resilience. Born from a desire to hold space for reflection, this blog is rooted in the understanding that rest is not a luxury but a sacred necessity, especially for those of us who are called to lead, advocate, and care deeply for others.

I am resting, and it’s the most radical thing I’ve ever done. I am a relentless advocate for my community and a survival of the US education system caught in the endless cycle of ‘what’s next’. A product of capitalism’s grind. It left me burned out and disconnected. But now, I rest…and I do it without guilt.

Through this blog, I want to share what I’ve learned about the transformative power of rest. For refugee leaders and advocates, life often moves at an unrelenting pace. The demands of building and rebuilding, navigating systems, and lifting others can make rest feel distant or even unattainable. But here, I hope to gently remind us all that rest is more than a pause. It is a return to ourselves.

I want my community and fellow leaders to know the power of rest too. Let’s rest together! Through these writings, I aim to:

Honor Rest

Inspire Connection

Share Stories

Encourage Stillness

This blog is a place for gentleness and grace