Instagram story viewer> @drdoreendm> Posts

dr. doreen dodgen-magee

@drdoreendm

9.3K

followers

679

following

the boredom evangelist
psychologist | 🥇author | speaker | activist | human
speaking inquiries: @collectivespeakers

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Artist Tony Cokes Appreciation Post, Part 2.

There is a Quaker saying that is akin to a finger snap of agreement at a rally or an “amen” shouted out in church. This phrase was all I could think of when I saw the second piece of Tony Cokes’ new exhibit at the Chicago Institute of Art.

That friend speaks my mind!

In authoring a book about the positive benefits of embracing boredom, I came up against powerful (and, often, behind the scenes) systems (AKA “set of forces”) that keep us constantly doing.

Constantly striving.

Constantly buying.

Constantly scrolling.

This artist gets it. He gets us.

I’m grateful…beyond words grateful.

What are the forces that keep you so anxious that boredom is never really within reach?

@artinstitutechi @cokes_tony #anxietyrecovery #anxietyproblems taken in The Art Institute of Chicago by @drdoreendm

3

9

11 days ago

Artist Tony Cokes Appreciation Post, Part 1.

My time in Chicago was very limited but I NEEDED to see this piece (& it’s second part, which I’ll post tomorrow) at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Since I was literally driving through but it was very close to closing time, I asked the art gods to bless me & they did.

Quoting the English cultural theorist Mark Fisher, Cokes presents us with truth in a form that I feel a particular kinship with.

If you’ve ever been to one of my talks, you know that my slides are intentionally “boring.” Helvetica font in black on white slides. Few words. Nothing moving. You likely also know that I use only lower case letters & that I have a book coming out in 2027 about boredom.

Tony, these pieces move me. If given the opportunity, I would have sat with them (& nothing else) for hours. Since it was closing time, I snapped these few photos then sat with them as long as I could. Thank you for making them and so much other important work that makes us think. I am beyond grateful.

@artinstitutechi #tonycokes #boredem #boredomstrikes taken in The Art Institute of Chicago by @drdoreendm

3

4

12 days ago

August was my only summer and, wow, it ended so sweetly.

A glorious day bopping around town, learning from, signing books at @powellsbooks & sharing time with Jonathan. (Did you know that your hair has to be “squishy sounding wet” when you apply @jvnhair Air Dry Cream? That you need to then brush it through and, only then, scrunch it? 🤯! I learned this at the @ultabeauty Masterclass they invited me to sit in on and now I have even more amazing third day curls!!)

Meeting up with dear ones who came to the show to cheer them on (including the editor of my new book, Shari, with @broadleafbooks ).

And, finally, a couple of overnights with my GrandOllie (I love that reference in place of grandchild).

It was a short summer for me (VERY short) but it was just right.

Now my goal is to return to my new and regular practice of being bored at least part of every day. Wanna join me? I hope you will…it’ll change your life!!

#chosenfamily #perfectdays #slowday @jvn taken in Portland, Oregon by @drdoreendm

3

25

a month ago

(CW: Gun violence. Please swipe through the tiles and read for important information)

Here’s my raw response to a shooting in my state. I made it while I was waiting to hear if my friend, who was visiting the city the shooting occurred in was OK.

My brain knew that, most likely, she was fine but also realized that many people were not. As a survivor of gun violence that took the lives of children (my own nieces), I’ve been there for the aftermath. It’s unthinkable.

Please bear witness to what so many of us face then take action. Share this post. Vote for gun sense candidates. Reach out to those you know who have had loved ones taken by gun. Join forces with, or donate to, @everytown or @momsdemand or @newtownactionalliance .

These are preventable deaths. We must each do our part.

Thank you @lisafororegon @senatorlisareynolds for bringing me into this work and for doing all that you can to keep Oregonians safe from gun violence. And thank you for responding today.

#endgunviolence #gunviolence #protectchildren #protectwomen #protecteachother by @drdoreendm

208

13

17 hours ago

Will I do ridiculous things to help you check in with your embodied self?

Yes. Yes I will.

#putyourphonedown #emotionalregulation #selfcompassionjourney #digitaldetox by @drdoreendm

3

4

9 days ago

I have known Aaron Swor (who is, for the record, the juiciest tomato…iykyk) for almost 15 years. I’ve seen him in countless roles on stage, we’ve stood in the back of a memorial service together, we’ve talked teeth and glasses. He called me when his mom died.

Last weekend, I had a few minutes while in Chicago & we were excited to meet up.

Little did I know that he’d invited his friends to come and meet me!!! 🥹❤️

To me, this is love incarnate…getting to know a beloved one’s people!

As I left I had to give Aaron a kissing hand & also found myself compelled to tell each of them that I love them…because I genuinely do!

The world is impossible right now…if you feel an inkling of love for someone, please tell them!! I know it did my heart a lot of good to just let it swell!

New Chicago friends…I love you! Aaron…keep yourself juicy! “Til next time!

@aaronswor.jpg @bradleydeeaann @matt._.sweeney @jamesrdiaz @bloomingbeanion

#putalittleloveinyourheart #chosenfamily #kissinghand taken in Chicago, Illinois by @drdoreendm

3

11

10 days ago

September went too quickly but I got to see so many beloved ones doing what they love to do.

Friends making art, designing spaces and clothing, family celebrating nothing (& everything) in particular. Tea parties with spoonfuls of sugar. Gifted gems & the unbelievable sound bed at @psychicsister (Chuck & I are considering moving in)! Canvassing (go @perenforlakeoswego ), kissing booths, and…babies in my house!!!

What made your September?

Hello fall…may you bring with you more boredom.

#septembertoremember #hellofall by @drdoreendm

3

8

15 days ago

(CW: suicide) As suicide awareness month comes to an end, I wanted to share a moment from a virtual meet & greet that I hosted for the incredible @perenforlakeoswego where @daciafororegon shared her pain, brilliance, & wosdom@with those of us gathered.

Oregon State Representative Dacia Grayber has long been a role model to me &, more importantly, a bright light of a friend and fellow gun violence prevention activist. I admire her & I genuinely love her.

Last year her precious family crawled through the horrible trauma of losing their beloved Addison to firearm suicide. As we communicated in the days following Addison’s death, it hit me, over & over, what a horrific reality it is to face a suicide related grief at all…let alone in the spot light as someone who has worked hard to respond to (Dacia as a paramedic & firefighter) & prevent it (me as a psychologist). I hate that we share this experience with one of our children.

Gun suicide claims nearly 27,000 U.S. lives annually—averaging 73 deaths every day—and represents nearly 60% of all gun deaths in the country. We can’t talk about suicide without also talking about guns. Safe storage of firearms as well as lots of conversations about a safety plan when hurting (along with calls to 988 & having people who will listen in one’s community) can help prevent these tragic deaths.

While the way in which our children died is different, the grief of losing a child to suicide is, at times, truly unbearable.

If you know of anyone who lives with this reality, why not reach out to them today. Share a story that you love about their child. Remind them of what incredible parents they are. Generally, just love on them.

Together, we can reduce loneliness, increase the normalcy of talking about the wish to die, and help folks choose a different path (even if it’s an excruciating one to figure out how to navigate).

Dacia, your family is in my heart and mind today. You are an incredible bunch and Addison knew you loved her! I know it to my core. May you feel the love & support I am sending your way!

#suicideawarness #suicidepreventionmonth #endgunviolence by @drdoreendm

3

4

17 days ago

(CW: Suicide) Here’s the post that I shared two years after the loss of my beloved one. I’m sharing the progression here because I hope it might help others see how I felt at two years out (I posted that carousel last week) and then at three years out (reflected by this carousel).

Grief does not resolve itself according to any timeline. And grief related to suicide is a very complicated path to walk

The longer I live and share in this space, the more people tell me how helpful it is to have connection with others who have faced this complex reality. I’m profoundly honored to try to add to this community of beloveds. In so many ways, I try to honor the brilliant and deeply loved Gage who cared so much about all who suffer by doing so.

After this post, I’ll end out Suicide Awareness month by posting some insights that are coming to me at 4 years (a year in which I faced another intimate loss by suicide).

Life is hard. Be ready to initiate or respond to requests for difficult conversations. You don’t need answers. You simply need empathy and courage and care.

#suicideawarenessprevention #suicidegrief #suicideawarenessmonth by @drdoreendm

50

2

23 days ago

(CW: Suicide) This month I’m sharing posts from the past that tell the story of having lost a chosen child to suicide.

This experience, thanks to the most amazing server (Mickey), will forever be one of my top 10 experiences in this life! Truly.

A stranger made space for me and invited Gage actively into it, then spent two hours asking about my beloved.

We can do this for others. For those struggling and those grieving.

The pain of life can be impossible and complicated grief is unrelenting.l Use whatever wild, weird, creative idea that comes to you to invite others into an empathic accompaniment. By doing this, Mickey literally helped me heal!

#complicatedgrief #empathymatters #suicidepreventionmonth taken in Chauhan Ale and Masala House by @drdoreendm

53

7

a month ago

(CW: Suicide) September is Suicide Awareness Month & marks four years since the brilliant, & my beloved, Gage departed this world.

For the next few days, I’m going to share some reflections (that I’ve shared before) from these past 1,489 days (but who’s counting).

For many people, staying alive is excruciating & the thought of death persists.

For others, the grief that comes with losing a beloved one to suicide feels unbearable.

For all of us, unconditional acceptance OF ourselves & FROM others can literally be life saving.

If you find help or hope in any of these discoveries I’ve experienced, I hope you’ll share them.

Together we can work to create a world where suicide isn’t the only answer. A world where belonging, help, accompaniment, and care can become more accessible & attainable options.

To anyone who recognizes the feeling & discoveries that I chronicle here, I see you. I’m lighting a candle now & hitting my meditation cushion. May we all be held by Love!

#suicidepreventionmonth #suicideawarenessprevention #unconditionallove❤️ #accompaniment by @drdoreendm

3

5

a month ago

Everywhere I go people tell me that they are overwhelmed by the state of our country. That they feel powerless, angry, and afraid.

I can relate.

So I’m finding ways that work for me to get active. It helps me so much and I have to believe it helps the process/reality we communally face in this election season as well.

There are as many ways to contribute to the political process as there are people (and EVERYTHING IS POLITICAL)!

Baking ways, crafting ways (ever heard of “craftivism”), helping neighbor ways, small acts of resistance ways (think boycotts, spending money with intention rather than ease, etc), and so many more.

Let’s work together to make a list. What’s a form of activism that we may not have thought of as such? If you have one, please add it below.

Also, please go follow @perenforlakeoswego and join along in this incredible candidates journey to office!

#2026election #canvassing #democracyinaction taken in Lake Oswego, Oregon by @drdoreendm

70

5

a month ago