How to Feel Better

Hi everybody,

How are you doing? I hope you’re doing whatever you need to do to keep yourself strong enough to do “the work that must be done.” And the work that must be done now is getting everybody aware of the dangers we face and act on them. I can tell you that what the dominators currently in power want to do is to make us feel so overwhelmed and exhausted that we simply surrender. 

But, we were made for these times!

Someone said to me recently that they didn’t want to pay attention to the news because it was too depressing. I can understand that, yet my response was that, on some level, they are aware of what’s going on and choosing to ignore it is like ignoring a five-alarm fire that’s sounding in their own neighborhood.

Wise action is the best antidote to despair.

Original image from “Swimmy,” by Leo Lionni'

I can't say this enough! Spending even just 15 minutes a day doing some constructive action to honor your feelings—like letting your Congress person know them—will make you feel a lot better. Give it a try, even if just once or three times.

And right now—these weeks—is a critical time to be active before the courts and Congress can do their jobs, which proceed at a slower pace than our actions. 

And don’t forget the power of networking! 

The most effective thing we can do is reach out to our own circles—garnering greater awareness and support, fueling organization and unity in the continued fight for democratic justice. I am tired—we are all tired—yet we must remember that one of the dominators’ tools is to confuse/exhaust/scare us into surrender. My acupuncturist told me she has so many patients who are so distressed about what is going on politically, but they don't know what to do. Now she is referring them to my website, which has lots of material for wise action. This is just an unexpected example of how spreading the word can multiply and empower others. 

The other thing that can make you feel better is to give some money to support the frontline organizations like ACLU, Indivisible, Movement Voter Project, etc.

Whatever amount of money feels worth it to you to protect our immediate and long-term future, even if it means a dinner at home with a friend rather than eating out once in a while. 

And you don’t need to read or listen to the mainstream news, which has been sanewashing political events for the past year or more. There are some great newsletters out there, several that I have mentioned in previous letters. My current favorite, because it always includes action items (yay!) is Jessica Craven’s Chop Wood, Carry Water. She is upbeat, smart, reads and summarizes all the important sources—and then offers specific strategic actions that anyone can take and, in my opinion, must take at this time.

I was particularly interested in this post about upcoming strikes, including a simply Stop Shopping Day on Feb. 28. And the video of AOC, while knitting, talking about how the ultra-right is much better at contacting congresspeople of all parties than other voters are. And this short video on how Musk’s gutting of USAID is bad for us here in the US, as well as those abroad. And this lovely, inspiring poem…She is full of helpful and important news!

If you missed the information in my previous letters—or would like to refer a friend to them—I have recently posted them to my website. And if you would like to know the best actions I know to take at this time, you can find them here and here. If you follow up on any one of the actions, the ancestors and all the future ones will be applauding you! 

"Look back only for as long as you must, 

Then go forward into the history you will make."

—Alberto Rios

May we hear thunder, 

Hallie