Y’all love the whole “together since high school” bit, but what you don’t get to feel in this moment is the sensation of watching someone grow and evolve out of the utmost lows that you thought they might never escape from.
(TW: writing about suicide)
Almost twenty years ago my repeat calls went unanswered on the morning we were headed back to spring semester of our sophomore year because Russell thought the world was better off without him in it, and couldn’t even tell me how he was feeling. I’ve never experienced that combination of devastation, betrayal, fear… suicide is one of the most emotionally complicated things I’ve ever had to experience on the survivor end. I didn’t even know how to mention it to my friends (incredible, supportive humans) for awhile after, and it took ages to learn how to talk about it.
A decade or so later, when his brother was successful, the world was again turned on its head as we (this time together) navigated posthumously attempting to understand the depths of someone’s depression that no one had a chance to help. Better tools this time, but there’s never a good way to experience this.
To watch someone you love fight incredibly hard to stay, to give themselves a gift that they don’t always believe to be a gift, is one of the most impressive things I’ve had the opportunity to watch.
It’s been a privilege to have a front row seat (and sometimes be a bit of a backseat driver) to you finding running as a part of your mental health care, Russell. Listening to you courageously talk about your own struggles anywhere/anytime/to anyone without the concern of stigma, and your genuine hope to reach other folks that might be feeling some of their own deep dark hopeless impresses me every single day.
Getting the opportunity of not just running Boston, but getting to do so while raising almost $16k for suicide prevention is the icing on the cake. I can’t wait to see you crush it—every single step and inhale and heartbeat and screaming muscle—all 26.2 of extreme alive.
❤️
(And of course, the sales pitch: If anyone wants to make a last minute donation, he’s literally just $122 away from $16k! Every dollar donated is appreciated!)
Second & final trip to Mayhem 😭☠️🥀
If you need compelling evidence to get there tonight, Boston friends, here you go. If you have an extra ticket, hit me up 🤑
Fan project tucked away at the end 🥰
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#mayhem #mayhemball #littlemonster #mothermonster #fanproject
One of my favorite times of year, just without my favorite gal this time through.
It’s been a weird month. Lightness sure helps with the weird grief hole, as does having the greatest network of friends and fam.
Thanks to everybody who dropped a comment, sent absurdly thoughtful things, refused to make eye contact so I didn’t cry while leading group ex, shared sweet pics and memories, showed up with surprise doorstep sugar… the list goes on. It’s really special to feel so cared for! And on to spring, I guess. ❤️
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#healing #witchhazel #bigsad #twyla #springtime
We lost our best friend yesterday and literally nothing could’ve prepared us for this level of heartbreak.
Twyla Juniper Lollipop Holman joined our family at 6 weeks (whoops), when we were 22, and we never would’ve guessed how co-dependent we’d all come through our formative years. Our tiny queen of side eye and snores, protector from all things delivery-person, licker of tears… she took such good care of us.
We are really grateful for 16 amazing years of adventures, scamming snacks, raucous play, and snuggles with our favorite girl. For the first time in ages the bed feels too big.
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#twyla #wemissyou #weensnotwar
This is me, being absolutely bowled over by 17 gifts in the last 12 hours to the Human Movement Project year end fundraising campaign.
(Actually this is Eliza, false advertising, you get the idea.)
We’ve got about ten Giving Tuesday hours to go, and then I don’t have to ask anyone for cash for awhile and instead, will go happily make new art and coordinate useful+accessible community movement workshops.
THANK YOU to our eleventh hour matching donor, and thanks to all of you that have stepped up to help—it means so much!
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#givingtuesday #bostonnonprofit #bostondance #bostondancescene #bostonartist
Not to be… dramatic… but it’s a hard time for arts funding right now, and we could use your help!
No gift is too small, help us bring more professional dance and movement based workshops to Hyde Park & the southwestern neighborhoods in 2026 :)
We are raising through Giving Tuesday 12/2.
Financial gifts too difficult? We get it! Likes, shares, and amplification go so far to help!
📸 by @oliviamoonphoto of Contradictions + Casual Self Loathing at @rtw_boston August 2025
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#bostondance #bostondancescene #bostonartist #bostonart #nonprofit #charitablegiving #bostonnonprofit #casualselfloathing #contemporarydance #dancetheatre
Little magic out there tonight!
🔮
Northern lights are out if you’re anywhere near Dedham. Hard to see with the naked eye, just a magenta tinge across the sky, but phone camera visible.
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#scenicAF #northernlights #dedham #boston #magic #phonephoto
Can confirm: this is how it feels to raise $6410 in a weekend.
If you want to support human-first art and arts programming (and a lot of exciting stuff happening at the Lab/Hyde Park) in 2026, there’s a link in bio to our donation page where you can join an incredible crew of supporters.
Can we raise an additional $4k this month? Every cent of funds raised is converted directly into making art and making community programs happen!
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#bostondance #bostondancecommunity #bostonart #bostonartist #supportlocalart #supportlocalartists #help #charitablegiving
📸 @oliviamoonphoto
