Amy Julia Becker

The Joy I Didn’t Expect on a Saturday Morning From nerves in the parking lot to laughter and celebration, I'm so glad we took this one small step. {Plus 3 things worth your time}

Last year the transition to college was hard for Penny (and for me!). But I’m here to tell you…

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Think Again, the latest book from Adam Grant Think Again examines the critical art of rethinking: learning to question your opinions and open other people’s minds.

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I read Think Again a couple of weeks ago. It has a great premise—that we need to be flexible in our thinking and willing to consider changing our minds. And it is filled with ways to make sure we—and those around us—are prepared for acts of rethinking.

Living Between Merry and Somber Gnome cookie jars, dark mornings, and the holy mystery of waiting for God with us. {And 2 books worth your time}

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I'm living between merry & somber. I wonder whether this back and forth—between sparkly outfits & humble beginnings, between Amazon lists & the invitation to deep peace whatever the circumstances, between merry & bright and somber reflection—I wonder whether all of it is its own form of preparation.

The World Is the Wrong Shape for Women - Amy Julia Becker Leah Libresco Sargeant on her book The Dignity of Dependence, exploring today’s debates about men, women, equality, embodiment, and what it means to honor our human neediness

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What does equality look like when our bodies are not the same? Can we admit our neediness and maintain our dignity as women or as men? How does interdependence lead to a more just society? 👇🏻

I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again, I love having teenagers.

The World Is the Wrong Shape for Women - Amy Julia Becker Leah Libresco Sargeant on her book The Dignity of Dependence, exploring today’s debates about men, women, equality, embodiment, and what it means to honor our human neediness

amyjuliabecker.com/feminism-dep...

"The lie of autonomy is the idea that the basic nature of being human is to take care of yourself, to not need others, and to not have other people who depend on you." Grateful to talk with Leah Libresco Sargeant on Reimagining the Good Life.

The World Is the Wrong Shape for Women - Amy Julia Becker Leah Libresco Sargeant on her book The Dignity of Dependence, exploring today’s debates about men, women, equality, embodiment, and what it means to honor our human neediness

In a culture that prizes autonomy, dependence can feel like loss. But dependence is not a flaw. It is part of what it means to be human. Leah Libresco Sargeant talks with me about how to live in the dignity of dependence: amyjuliabecker.com/feminism-dep...

Latest episode of the ERB podcast: We chatted with Kathleen Norris and @amyjuliabecker.bsky.social about disability, what it means to be human, and their experiences accompanying family members with disabilities: buff.ly/TFuJVAs

Living Between Merry and Somber Gnome cookie jars, dark mornings, and the holy mystery of waiting for God with us. {And 2 books worth your time}

open.substack.com/pub/amyjulia...

December invites both glitter and gravity. I’ve been thinking about what it means to hold joy and longing together, and how that tension might be its own form of preparation.

The World Is the Wrong Shape for Women - Amy Julia Becker Leah Libresco Sargeant on her book The Dignity of Dependence, exploring today’s debates about men, women, equality, embodiment, and what it means to honor our human neediness

The way we speak reveals what we believe about who matters. There’s more about the dignity of dependence in my conversation with Leah for the podcast. amyjuliabecker.com/feminism-dep...

We should expect so much more of our leaders, including our President. Leah Libresco Sargeant writes that for the “most vulnerable people in our midst, a culture that despises dependence will endanger their lives.” Belittling language from our leaders cannot be shrugged off. 2/

When people in power use the r-word to denigrate others, they belittle people with intellectual disabilities, normalize the use of slurs, suggest intellectual disability is shameful, and prop up their own positions with weak and crass appeals to our worst instincts. 1/

The World Is the Wrong Shape for Women - Amy Julia Becker Leah Libresco Sargeant on her book The Dignity of Dependence, exploring today’s debates about men, women, equality, embodiment, and what it means to honor our human neediness

amyjuliabecker.com/feminism-dep...

Podcast graphic for Reimagining the Good Life, Season 9 Episode 4. Leah Libresco Sargeant poses for a portrait with text overlay that reads: “The World Is the Wrong Shape for Women with Leah Libresco Sargeant.” In the bottom corner is a small thumbnail of host Amy Julia Becker and the show’s logo.

There’s lots of conversation right now about the roles of women and men—whether it’s the Epstein scandal or the viral “Great Feminization” essay. It’s clear we don’t quite know how to talk about gender. Leah Libresco Sargeant joins me on the podcast to talk about her book The Dignity of Dependence.

Joy Doesn't Have to Look Like a Hallmark Movie - Amy Julia Becker Let go of Hallmark-movie pressure. This guide helps families, especially those with disability, set priorities, ask for help, and enjoy the holidays.

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Let go of the Hallmark-movie pressure. Joy doesn't have to look like Hallmark.
Instead of asking:
- Is this normal?
- Is this what everyone else is doing?
- Is this the ideal?
Ask:
- Is this healthy for me?
- Is this healthy for our family?
If the answer is no, you’re free to let it go.

From Chaos to Calm-ish: Holiday Survival for Disability Parents - Amy Julia Becker Psychotherapist Niro Feliciano unpacks why disability families carry extra emotional weight during the holidays—and how small shifts can bring more peace.

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For families experiencing disability, remember your holidays don’t have to look like everyone else’s. Choose what’s healthy. Instead of asking, “Is this what everybody else is doing? Is this normal?” ask instead, “Is this healthy? For me? For our family?” If it's not, well, I'm going to let it go.

Grateful for the Gifts of an “Unperfect” Season Permission for a different kind of holiday, plus five questions we’ll be asking at our Thanksgiving table. {And 3 things worth your time}

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Let presence matter more than perfection. Let taking care of myself be an important part of taking care of others. Ask what it looks like to show up in love (rather than fear or worry or a need to perform).

From Chaos to Calm-ish: Holiday Survival for Disability Parents - Amy Julia Becker Psychotherapist Niro Feliciano unpacks why disability families carry extra emotional weight during the holidays—and how small shifts can bring more peace.

amyjuliabecker.com/holidays-dis...

A podcast episode graphic for "Take the Next Step with Amy Julia Becker" featuring a portrait of Niro Feliciano. Bold yellow text box reads: From Chaos to Calm-ish: Holiday Survival for Disability Parents with Niro Feliciano. The bottom right corner shows a smaller image of the podcast cover with Penny, who has Down syndrome, walking with Amy Julia on a dirt path.

Feeling the holiday overwhelm creep in? Psychotherapist Niro Feliciano unpacks why disability families carry extra emotional weight this time of year—and how small shifts can bring more peace. We explore how to create a holiday season that fits your family, not Instagram.

Grateful for the Gifts of an “Unperfect” Season Permission for a different kind of holiday, plus five questions we’ll be asking at our Thanksgiving table. {And 3 things worth your time}

These words give me permission to live in the reality of my life & my family this holiday season. To let presence matter more than perfection. To let taking care of myself be an important part of taking care of others. To ask what it looks like to show up in love.

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What is one organization (school, church, non-profit, restaurant, etc.) you’re thankful for?

What is one media source (podcast, author, show, album) you’re thankful for?

What is one additional moment, person, or thing you’re thankful for right now? 2/2

Penny setting the Thanksgiving table

The best Thanksgiving conversations can begin with one good question. Here are a few questions we will be asking around our table this Thanksgiving:

Who is someone not at this table you’re thankful for?

Why are you thankful for people at the table?

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