In the previous post, we discussed how many people are fighting back and while we may seem “stuck” out on the sidelines, away from the violence and opportunities to help hands-on, mutual aid is a powerful way to protect our communities. In smaller-populated areas, we are able to test things without sacrificing much. We are able to relay what has worked at our scale, and incorporate new ideas from our friends with boots on the ground.
Mutual aid is empowering and dissolves the individualism that helped get us where we are today. I considered how someone can ensure they’re doing everything they can— not just the most important bits, but picking up the smaller things that maybe more people let slide. I’ve found some helpful ideas, and am compiling them here.

I’ll list them out and go into depth about any that may not be super clear!

So when the traditional avenues feel blocked, when protests don't shift policy, when reps just keep talking, when legal battles ping-pong back and forth while nothing fundamentally changes— what do we actually do?

Here's what I keep coming back to: we build the structures that catch people when everything else fails. We practice now for what we'll need later. We stop waiting for someone else to fix this and start taking care of each other directly.

We build mutual aid.

Dinniman doesn’t hedge. He doesn’t soften the gamified absurdity or apologize for it, and I genuinely respect that. The systems are clear, the rules are consistent, and the world knows exactly what it is. In that sense, the book feels less like a narrative trying to transform you and more like a proof of concept executed with confidence.
For me, that confidence didn’t translate into emotional investment, per se, but it did translate into inspiration.

This is the kind of book that makes you think, “Yeah. You can just do that.” You can commit fully to a strange idea, build it out, and let it exist without trying to justify itself as something bigger or deeper than it is. That, to me, is still art! Even when it doesn’t hit every reader the same way. (Maybe especially when it doesn’t hit everyone the same!)

You join the groups, attend some meetups, start hitting the local events and mingling across all manner of affair, but— you still find yourself silencing your phone when you get down, instead of feeling there’s someone truly safe you can call to sit with.

Proximity has never guaranteed connection.
We've sat in classrooms, offices, and family dinners feeling profoundly alone; physically together and still completely unseen. The problem was never the room we were in, but was what we had to give up to stay in it.

What's shifting now isn't that people stopped wanting connection. It's that many of us stopped betraying ourselves to get it.~

Copy-pasting AI without consideration, failing to fact-check or provide sources for claims or apparent studies, pretending proofreading and fact-checking is a waste of time, staying silent about the harm of current AI datacenters and how much better they could be with some regulation— there are many ways to use AI for the worst, and to easily be a very complicit part of the issue. To assume that anyone (esp. who advocates for ethical, regulated AI) must be a copy-paster is a deeply unserious way to avoid engaging with the actual issue. Which, to be very clear, AI’s environmental, economic, and humanitarian effects demand instant, impactful mandate. That’s a whole other discussion, of course.
The issue today, is accusing someone of being or using AI while you’re speaking with them. A human issue. This is the new version of accusing them of being a robot or robotic. Unless you can give VERY specific examples of something genuinely offensive, there needs to be more compassion and even lacking that— respect is the bare minimum.

One of the biggest, most important takeaways from this book was speaking to peoples’ needs. The example Lilly offered was talking about Customer Service to people who are struggling with housing and food. She wrote that people cannot hear you if you are speaking above their need. This talk, she says, should be slanted towards how GOOD customer service puts food on the table. This sort of goes hand-in-hand with a much later point she makes about hecklers, challengers; you’re speaking to a group of human beings. Words mean different things to different people, cultural and linguistic barriers are very real. But, someone listening when their minds are on other things is a whole different type of wall.

When I peeled the wrapping paper away, the burst of blues and purples from the cover art pushed through, almost like a beacon of light… “A DRAGON TOOK HER SISTER— SHE’LL SET THE WORLD ON FIRE TO BRING HER BACK.” in a bold yellow across the cover’s brow.
Obviously, I love dragons, I am a rainbow soul, I’m about it.

Cozykins believes comfort is an art form. Reborns are proof that softness and beauty can be powerful — not just for collectors, but for anyone who needs a little joy or grounding in their day.

Whether your reborn is a realistic newborn or a neon-haired fairy baby, it’s more than just a doll, as they are a piece of art you can hold, and maybe… a reminder that there’s still quiet love in the world.~

You already know they’re cute. You already know they’re soft. But plush toys (stuffed animals, stuffies, plushies…) are more than little blobs of fluff sitting on a shelf — they’re mood-boosters, travel buddies, comfort objects, fashion icons, and sometimes full-on emotional support in a huggable form.
Most folks have a fuzzy memory or wild story about one of their stitched companions from lifetimes previous— you should share yours with us! (Bonus points if there’s pics of the plush friend!)

But you know me—there’s never too much cozy without a little chaos. My U.S.-based plushie manufacturer failed to deliver yet again. This was my breaking point.
While others suffering the same were forced into litigation, I fought for and secured my full refund—though the lost production time was something no check could fix.

So, I made a decision: if the factory couldn’t bring my Cozykins to life, I’d learn to do it myself.~

We don't give people the benefit of the doubt when others' dignity, safety, or trauma are on the line. In today’s society, we need to be uplifting one another, not enshrining our goofy ideas on the wrong side of history. Genuinely, it’s easy to have accountability and integrity. It’s easy to own mistakes and apologize.
Not doing so is simply severe weakness, a malnourishment of your very soul. “Ghosting” on decent people is emotional avoidance and lack of accountability in relationships. We’re way stronger than that, and always hope folks can see that in themselves, too!

When we say Cozykins is for “all ages,” we don’t mean it’s just safe for kids. We mean it’s for you—the burned-out parent, the quiet queer kid who grew up fast, the anxious adult trying not to scream in the grocery store parking lot. We mean the people who almost gave up, but didn’t. The ones who are still here, still trying, even when it feels like the world keeps growing more draining and aggressive.
We’re not here to sugarcoat it— some of us have had suicidal thoughts. Some of us almost didn’t make it. But we’re still here! And if you are too—welcome. Cozykins is built for that kind of survivor.

Over the past year, Cozykins Plushies was built from scratch—through production delays, through grief anniversaries, through a million challenges that no one saw. This was a beautiful opportunity to take in all the progress from the past year, all the overcoming and achieving. And I am only just getting started!
We are still so young, and yet this event made it feel like a lifetime of love had already been poured in. I’m proud. I’m grateful. I’m incredibly stoked for what lies ahead!

Honestly, I’ve been so busy accomplishing goals lately that I kept forgetting my own birthday was coming up — until it was here! How lucky I am: to celebrate surrounded by my family, to take the day off from building Cozykins, to look back and feel proud.

This next year will be a big one. Preorders will open! Plushies will arrive! Cozy friends will find homes. Takari Tribe will expand its events and community spaces. My first PRIDE and Cozy events, all finding their way onto event calendars!

Working with Tumi has been one of the smoothest, most rewarding experiences of Cozykins' creation journey. She's thoughtful, communicative, and incredibly open to collaboration! She took the seeds of the Cozykins world and tended them with the same care and passion that I dreamed of from the very beginning.
Because of her, Cozykins Plushies are alive with intention. They're made to be hugged, cherished, and passed down. They have the feeling of something a little deeper than "just a toy” in many ways, and Tumi’s work is a powerful part of that!

Time in nature is one of the best forms of self-care. Studies show that being outdoors can reduce stress, boost mood, and increase overall well-being. Our National Parks offer the perfect escape to reset and recharge. Wyoming overall has less than 4% tree coverage, which is associated with increased risk of suicide. Please plant where you can, encourage tree initiatives, and call or text 988 if you’re having troublesome thoughts about hurting yourself. There’s a lot to do and see, and you’ve made it this far! Thanks for being here. Get out and about, shake off the cabin fever!

April 1st was technically April Fool’s Day… but the joke was 100% on us!

Our first Gelato No-No event—a slime “ice cream” stand hosted by Dragon Dreams Slimes + Sands—was full of learning curves, creative chaos, and cozy surprises.
This dreamy little pop-up was created to offer a full sensory experience: soft, scoopable slimes served like scoops of ice cream, with sprinkles, glitters, and delicious (non-edible!) scents to choose from. The goal? Give folks a hands-on way to engage with our newest creations and spread a little slime-powered joy in the process.

International Women’s Day has its roots in labor movements and working-class women’s activism. The first official observance happened in 1911, inspired by a 1908 garment workers’ strike in New York where women demanded fair wages, shorter hours, and voting rights.

That’s right: not brunch. Not gift boxes.
The beginning of IWD was about women refusing to be silent in the face of exploitation.

Over time, IWD became a global day of action for women’s rights—not just in the U.S., but across Europe, Asia, and Africa. In many countries, it’s a national holiday, complete with protests, rallies, and public demands for change.

Women’s History Month isn’t remembering famous names in textbooks; it’s lifting up the stories that weren’t told. It’s about the labor, love, organizing, and art that kept entire communities running—even when those same women were erased from the credit.

This month—and every month—we celebrate women of all walks.
Because women aren’t a monolith. And strength doesn’t always look like what history books told us.

As February 20th has arrived, so has another anniversary for my partner and I. I find myself taking stock of the incredible journey Matthew and I have shared. Our relationship has been a tapestry of challenges, victories, and quiet moments that have strengthened not just our bond but also our individual selves. We have longbeen a testament to the beauty of relationships that allow for growth, self-discovery, and healing.