Kindness Village - Group: Kindness Village https://kindnessvillage.org/main/?group=1 Simple:Press Version 6.11.13 Dragonfly983 on Hi, I'm Dragonfly983 from the Midwest https://kindnessvillage.org/main/introductions/hi-im-dragonfly983-from-the-midwest/#p6 Introductions https://kindnessvillage.org/main/introductions/hi-im-dragonfly983-from-the-midwest/#p6 Hello, I'll go by Dragonfly983 here. I really like the intention of this space.

I live in the Midwest and spend a lot of my time caring for others, which means I don’t often talk about how I’m actually doing. I’d like to practice being a bit more honest and connected.

I listen to audiobooks a lot while working, and I'm always looking for recommendations of good books. One of my favorite authors is Barbara Kingsolver.

]]> Tue, 27 Jan 2026 06:25:18 -0500 Dragonfly983 on I'm Anna from ~Charleston, WV https://kindnessvillage.org/main/introductions/im-anna-from-charleston-wv/#p5 Introductions https://kindnessvillage.org/main/introductions/im-anna-from-charleston-wv/#p5 Nice to meet you, Anna! I'm looking forward to Kindness Village.

]]> Mon, 26 Jan 2026 09:33:38 -0500 Anna on Burnout https://kindnessvillage.org/main/hurting-hard-times/burnout/#p3 Hurting & Hard Times https://kindnessvillage.org/main/hurting-hard-times/burnout/#p3 I'm in a hard time lately that seems to be "burnout."

Mostly it's that my days have been too full of work (both work-work, at my job, and childcare-work/housework at home) and not enough of rest. We've had some mild sickness and some other draining-to-me things going on. I'm quite depleted.

I've also been (like many people, I gather) quite dismayed about what I'm hearing on the news, especially the brutal ICE raids and violence. It hurts to hear about, and I feel afraid about what will come next for our country.

(Making this Kindness Village has been an attempt to channel my feelings into something potentially productive. It's something to do about how I feel [in addition to other things I'm already doing and/or planning to do].)

Also it's winter--with a big winter storm coming--and things just feel bleak and hard.

Back to the housework: I've been thinking how ironic it is that in times when you most need order, efficiency, and efficacy (for example, to be able to find things you need, and to have them be clean and peacefully ordered), those are the times of the most messiness and chaos, because you're having a hard time.

Compassion, compassion, compassion...to me and everyone who is hurting and having a hard time...compassion is my mantra.

]]> Fri, 23 Jan 2026 17:15:06 -0500 Anna on I'm Anna from ~Charleston, WV https://kindnessvillage.org/main/introductions/im-anna-from-charleston-wv/#p2 Introductions https://kindnessvillage.org/main/introductions/im-anna-from-charleston-wv/#p2 Hi, I'm Anna (the creator of this site). I'm from the Charleston, WV area. I'm a mom of three kids, three cats, two dogs, and one husband. 🙂

My main passion is writing. I'm working on a novel that I hope to get published when it's ready. I also have a blog/Substack (annaeplin.com) and corresponding social media pages, where I post little poems ("Serenity Splashes") and songs that I write.

I care deeply about kindness (obviously!), mental health, rationality/critical thinking, and making this life in this world now as good as I/we can.

I'm late-diagnosed autistic, as well as "exvangelical" (former fundamentalist Christian).

I love reading, learning, nature, animals, music, and quiet conversations with good friends.

My life is quite busy and at times overwhelming...I'm heading over to the "Hurting & Hard Times" thread now to write about that.

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