From what I see and hear this week, if you’re reeling from our national political experience you’re not alone. Almost everyone I’ve talked to is wondering first and foremost how not to spiral into despair. There, I’ve said it. So if that’s you, take heart. Like-minded people sit with you by the fire.
We’re all going to have our different ways of facing what we hope will be only four years of this. I am not one to shame for temperament, so if you’re under the covers I hope your blankets are warm. If you can’t bear to talk about it, I understand.
But here’s my particular strategy, depending on what’s happening at any given moment.
- Something horrific gets said: Ignore, nothing has happened yet.
- Something horrific gets reported as though it were normal: Unsubscribe from the reporting outlet, or unfollow if it’s social media. Move to Reuters, the BBC, or AP, along with some carefully chosen niche media/social media contributors like The American Prospect, Amy Siskind and Heather Cox Richardson.
- Something horrific starts to happen: Recoil. These are the moments of panic and rage. Take a deep breath, go to trusted news/analysis sources, try to understand possible implications. Adjust worldview to include that which we had not expected. (The shutdown of a lot of NIH work would fall into this category.) Keep eyes open for updates to understand if the event becomes more or less serious than first reports indicated.
- Reward those who are fighting, and plan my own actions as best I can
- Short-term
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez seems to be one of the few in Congress willing to speak out openly and acknowledge that working across the aisle is unlikely to succeed. So I donated to her. Short-term, as I said, but helps me feel steadier.
- Learn the phone number to report ICE actions in my neighborhood, if any.
- Longer-term
- Still learning Spanish, have found the access point to tutor in Hispanic-majority high schools, will begin the process to sign up for program.
- Look ahead to upcoming electoral work. Here that means the House elections of 2026. I think I’ll poke around and research which district I’ll volunteer for this go-round.
- Short-term
- And if we have the capacity, be kind and warm and appreciative to those who are carrying on in the face of what must feel impossible, and to those who simply feel as you do.
Towards the first objective, here’s a story.
I’ve finally applied for Social Security. The website says applicants will hear back in 30 days, and I’d heard nothing. I called, multiple times, only to sit on hold for two hours (yes TWO hours). Finally, actually worried they’d given up working altogether (understandable) I asked on social media, “Has anyone spoken to someone at Social Security lately?” I was reassured; the next time I called I opted for the “call me back” option; I got a phone call from the nicest woman; all was explained to me in the most human tone I’ve heard from a telephone service person in months; I felt huge relief. There are still humans. And I told her she’d made my day, that I imagined working in the federal government might not be easy right now, that it was so great to talk to her, and that her work mattered. She thanked me. Suddenly we were both tearful.
Everything felt a little better.
Towards the second objective, I appreciate you all. Just knowing you’re out there helps. I have not even an inkling of answers, but I can manage myself into a semblance of calm, with a plan that feels possible and maybe even useful. And I can type.
Have a good weekend, everyone. As they say, we still need and still deserve joy.
