This is not an inspirational email...

I've had a really good week. In fact, I've had a really good month.

I was going to write about how excited I am with all the good things going on for me right now and my hopes and dreams.

But today I don't feel like sharing anything good or lighthearted.

The truth is that the world has felt like a dumpster fire for quite some time.

Some might say that's human nature, that it's been like that since the beginning of time.

And that might be true.

There's always shit going down, man-made destruction, warfare, injustice, genocide, violence. And don't even get me started on how we're slowly burning down this blue planet we call home.

I suppose we just get used to living in chaos. We move past it and try to build a better world, at least in our little corners.

But when something new hits, another drop of WTF in the cup that’s already overflowing, it knocks the wind out of me.

I know you're all probably sick of hearing about the US Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade in the past few days.

So I won't tell you my point of view on abortion or give you the millionth take on the ethics of it.

Instead, I'm going to talk about statistics and about love.

Why statistics?

Because deep down, I'm a rational, numbers person.

Anyone who knows me might be laughing just at the thought of this. After all, I cry when I step on an ant by mistake, when I see an old couple holding hands, or at any of the hundred-odd songs that move me to tears just as soon as I hear their first notes.

Yes, I'm all hugs and feelings and heart.

But somewhere in the bizarre cocktail that makes up my genes, I've inherited a love of logic.

It cured my fear of flying to read that you're statistically more likely to die on the way to the airport than on the plane. Although now I'm on edge every time I get in a cab to go on holiday.

And, as well as a visit to the Shark Lab (that's a story for another day!), what cured my fear of sharks was learning that you're 10 times more likely to be killed by a cow than a shark. Although, again, it's also made me a little uneasy around cows.

So when I read that countries that legalise drugs drastically reduce the number of drug addicts, overdoses, and drug-related deaths, the answer to the war on drugs seems obvious to me.

Just like we know that countries where abortion is legal and safe actually have a lower number of abortions than countries where it's illegal.

Yes, it's true that countries where it’s legal also tend to have better sex education programs and access to contraception.

But still, you see my point?

If politicians really want to reduce the number of abortions, if it is all about unborn babies, then they already know the strategies that work.

Instead, they take away the right to abortion, say they will also take away the right to have access to contraception, and refuse to implement policies that actually support having babies, like parental leave, free child care, and a long etc.

In my logical, half-Vulcan half-human brain, that leads me to conclude that politicians don't actually care about reducing the number of abortions.

Instead, what they care about seems to be passing moral judgement on women, controlling them, and shaming them for having sex.

Cos judging by the comments on social media, like the so often repeated and absurd "just keep your legs shut," it would seem as if women just impregnate themselves by magic without any male intervention.

This brings me to the second topic I wanted to touch on, and that is love.

Because the moral judgments that these religious conservatives are passing don't stop at women.

They've announced that they will take away the rights to same-sex marriage and even same-sex relationships. So back to the days when men were put in prison or lynched for loving another man (cue flashbacks to Brokeback Mountain and Ennis and Jack's "fishing" trips).

Life is so very short. It really is.

You blink, and it's gone by.

This is why I've never understood why people choose to spend their very precious time worrying about what other people do with their life, who they bring into their bed, and who they love.

And that is the most damming at all. Who they love.

I mean, finding someone who chooses to love you exactly as you are, flaws and all, doesn’t happen every day.

So isn't it something to be celebrated and shouted from the rooftops? Shouldn't we all cheer when two people find each other in this mad world and are a little bit less lonely for it? Why should anyone care about the details?

In the end, love is love, and the world is better for it.

So yes, today I don't have anything positive to say.

And I've struggled thinking about whether I should write anything about this topic at all.

But the truth is that this is what's on my mind. I always pride myself on being honest, so I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't share this too.

I hope you're feeling loved and safe.

Because the rest we can work on together.

Paula

P.S. I know this is a very long email… when I get fired up, I get a little ranty! So I apologise in advance.

And if you’ve read this far- I thank you profusely! Now you know more about how my brain works than you probably wanted to!