When All Goes Dark, Turn on the Light
Do you like mystery movies and detective shows? Me too. Have you ever shouted at the TV as though the characters could hear you or might even answer back? Normally, I watch quietly to get the story. In most detective shows, there's a scene near the end of the chase where the good guys go into a dark room, warehouse, or other space with a flashlight—sometimes the gun pointed in one hand and flashlight on top, in the other hand. That's when I yell at the characters, "Turn on the light! The switch is right there!"
That's what I've been feeling and thinking lately about this newsletter and private member community we've built for three years for professionals, communicators, and gifted adults. This is supposed to be where you feel safe, you are seen and heard, and you enjoy the benefits of a curated community.
This is where you come to learn more from people who have experienced or mastered what you want to do next. It's where you discover you have gifts that seem natural and easy to you, and others appreciate those gifts and want to learn from you.
The GPC Community aims to educate, connect, and support on all things that define and drive communication, professionalism, and adults who discover or suspect their giftedness after graduation. It is our mission to encourage, enlighten, and empower you to thrive in your life experience by sharing the wisdom that has so long been kept veiled or hidden.
Why Are We Running Into the Dark?
We honor expertise and admire professionals who show leadership, craftsmanship, and swim in their lane. When it comes to political reporting and coverage of world news, we leave that to gifted professionals and communicators such as Dan Rather, Jessica Yellin, Jim Acosta, Anne Applebaum, Derek Thompson, Heather Cox Richardson, Ann Telnaes, and Rebecca Solnit.
We have to talk about it here and now because it is causing too much darkness and it's time to find the light switch. It's getting more difficult to get to the writing desk first thing in the morning when the environment feels dangerous or unfriendly.
I'm a journalist. The news and editorial kind. Not a war correspondent like Dan Rather and others who did their reporting with bombs and bullets distracting them from finishing a sentence or writing the headline. Even the war correspondent would have some downtime or get a jet back to a hometown thousands of miles from the frontlines of conflict.
There is no downtime for journalists or citizens—none of us, under the "flood the zone" strategy of the Trump regime. The hundreds of Executive Orders, the lies and spin of reality to cause distraction are smoke shields to hide the mischief and corruption going on at the same time.
How am I suppose to keep writing every day? My bigger concern is will my readers still be there? Will my subscribers cut way back on reading, and pull the covers over their head?
This feels overwhelming and very dark
While it seems like a good idea to start writing the minute you get to work, journalists are not trained that way. We observe, look around, read several morning papers and check the pulse of America before we go to work.
This theme came through several different reports on today's story:
Last week's horrific Supreme Court decisions further undermine our rights and the rule of law, and the attacks on immigrants and refugees continue to get more brutal, while a new attack on birthright citizenship and naturalized citizens is underway. If we do nothing, we will live in an authoritarian country, where the checks and balances guaranteed by the Constitution and the rights encoded in the Bill of Rights will become irrelevancies.
Rebecca Solnit makes right now clear and real: "This is the most dire moment in the history of the United States and no one should be on the sidelines, and no one should be undermining those who are showing up for justice, human rights, and environmental protection."
This is feeling dark. This is trauma. GPC Member Lily Jedynak, PhD tells us "Gifted trauma is not simply trauma that happens to gifted individuals. It’s trauma that is processed through the nervous system of a person whose inner world is unusually sensitive, complex, and intense. In short: the gifted nervous system doesn’t just react more—it remembers more, feels more, and ruminates more."
I yell "Turn on the light" and Lily provides guidance to get through trauma. One of her suggestions is exactly why the GPC Community exists: "Seek attuned connection. Healing rarely happens in isolation. Because much of gifted trauma is relational, healing requires relational repair. This doesn’t mean you need a dozen friends—it means you need someone who sees you clearly, honors your depth, and doesn’t flinch when you express intensity."
More Reasons to Turn on the Light
There's more to this than even the worst bill in history. Trump's giant budget-busting, Medicaid-shattering, shafting-the-poor-and-working-class, make-the rich-even-richer bill is a travesty. It will not help the economy or make you safer.
As we step into July, we feel the days compress and we are pulled in too many directions. The year is half over, the light begins to linger less and we are moving toward the darkness of fall and winter. I see this restlessness in myself and see it in the comments of Substack stories and replies to email.
Many of our aspirations and ambitious projects for 2025 are not at the halfway point and some of them are not launched yet. We have allowed distractions. Still, here we are with the clock moving ahead while our good intentions and best ideas wait for implementation.
There is always ONE thing that you get to control: your attention.
You Can't Be Brilliant in Isolation
What are we doing to turn the light on? It's clear that the more vast, more global, more enormous the events seem, our immediate strategy for survival is hyper-local activity. That means this
Take care of you. Put your oxygen mask on before helping your companion. Take care of your physical and mental health. Whatever health habits you know are right and need your attention, just do it. A little something every day and then again tomorrow. Movement. Nutrition. Hugs. Sleep. And make sure your information diet isn't toxic either.
Find a great listener to hear your ideas and kick around thoughts. You can't be brilliant in isolation and because dialogue is the only way to turn the lights on in your brain, look into the GPC Community for the one or two like-minded others that always return the favor—and without judging.
Find a nearby community that needs you and commits to your care, such as volunteering that matches your gifts and interests, such as supporting a candidate who will replace the one that is corrupt and ignoring their oath of office.
Write for this Substack or your own. Writing helps you think and forces reflection. Habits of reflection separate extraordinary professionals from mediocre ones. Reflection shines light on dark thoughts and empowers you with better questions which halt half-baked answers. Send me an email if you want to collaborate with me on a feature article for GPC. You may ask for input or another set of communication professional eyes for your project or writing. Go elsewhere to sell stuff. Come to GPC to grow and help others grow alongside.
GPC is Your Community. Instructions for Use.
Whether you are new to the community experience or have been with us for years, it's worth remembering the value of who you are and the value of this community.
First, let's blow away the myths to clear the brain
Community is not marketing!
Social media is not community!
An email list is not a community!
An event is not a community!
A digital platform is not the community!
GPC is a brand community and it works because we studied online communities for five years and joined many of them to “go inside” and see what made them sizzle and sustain or fizzle out.
This is about transformation, not transaction. Events companies and professional associations are transactional—all about buying a service or product. GPC is about social connections and shared identity formed around the brand. What is the brand? The brand is YOU!
There is a stronger sense of belonging in a brand community. It is an identification that is more pronounced than being a customer. Individuals invest in themselves and each other.
This is about active engagement instead of passive receipt of information. That means professionals, communicators, and gifted adults interacting with each other. While social media is simply a place to post, the GPC has shared values and active participation.
According to GPC Member and world expert on brand communities, Carrie M. Jones, brand community has defining characteristics. Carrie emphasizes that a true brand community is distinct from a mere collection of customers or an audience.
Shared Consciousness: Members feel a connection to the brand and each other. This includes a sense of "we-ness" and a collective identity. It's knowing you are part of something bigger than yourself.
Rituals and Traditions: These are the routines and activities that create cohesion and history within the community. They reinforce shared values and beliefs specific to the brand or product.
Moral Responsibility: A feeling of duty to the brand, and to other community members. This often manifests as helping new members, advocating for the brand, or defending it from criticism.
Shared Values and Interests: Members are drawn together because they share values, interests, and experiences connected to the brand. This alignment is what provides a common ground for interaction.
You ARE the Light
GPC Member Trish Keel is an authority on light. She reminds us, "You ARE the Light you seek. Within you shines the radiant Divinity of the One Life. It beams forth from your eyes when you look out with Love in your heart.
"Humans emit light. Science has proven what we have long recognized with our language. The most fascinating thing about this, though, is that there is no loss of energy from shining. Instead, there is a multiplication of energy. Like lighting many candles from one flame, the more Light we shine out, the brighter we shine.
"If you are OK and aware that others are not, turn on your high beams and Light their way. When you help others, you help us all. We are the One Life. We are here to honor and help each other."
Becoming a paid subscriber gives you access to the discussion threads, which are addictive, moving, and soothing, plus direct introductions to the few others who ask about dialogue with you. The subscriber-only area is my backyard, which is gated and where we have the fire pit, quality time with me and others, and deeper conversations about your story. The front porch is the free area where everyone finds original content during the week, plus action buttons for Like and Share. Paid is a powerful way to show that you see the work that goes into writing and building a community every day. If you’re already a paid subscriber, thank you so much for making this work sustainable.
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Thanks for passing on the wisdom about Light, Georgia! I really appreciate you.
Such a timely essay, full of hope, brilliance and inspiration🙏