If you, like me, are shattered by yesterday’s election results, you may be, like me, searching the Internet and social media for answers, encouragement, community. Today, I want to touch in with you and share some resources and a few morning-after thoughts, and then I’ll open the comments for your thoughts. Whether you voted D, R, I, or none of the above, you are welcome to share how you are feeling today, and as a small but heartfelt community, we can be there for each other.
And that is my first impulse this morning after an election that once again defied prognostication—to reach out and connect with flesh and blood people in my world. People I can touch, hug, and share tea with. I have a feeling that is what I’m going to be doing a lot more of going forward.
We the people have to stick together. Last night’s results tell me that I have worked too hard to avoid uncomfortable conversations with people close to me, many of whom must have voted in a way that I object to. I truly hope we get to do this again. The newly elected president has promised there will be no more elections. I guess we’ll see what happens.
But I will reach out and touch my loved ones and make new friends. I will gather with my people, both the ones “on my side” and the ones I’m not so sure about. To be brutally honest, I’m gonna need my straight Christian friends for when the government decides to take away my rights, my Social Security, my voice. Maybe they’ll agree to hide me in their basement if in the mean time, between today and then, we become friends. Maybe that’s how we beat fascism. God knows I’ve been in a bubble, so here’s to bursting it in as many ways as I can going forward.
But before I reach out, I’m going to take some time to feel my feelings. I’m going to allow myself to feel and express it all, in safe places and with safe people, starting with my journal, this morning. I’m going to mourn what is a death, and feel the depth of my love for what I was working toward. And for all the people who worked alongside me, I am going to do my best to witness and hold them in their feelings and let them know that I am here.
I’m going to do what my recovery has taught me: first things first, take care of the basics, and don’t do anything to hurt myself or other people. That means take a shower, have breakfast, take my vitamins and medications, write a Substack, reach out to my networks, share how I’m feeling, and find something—anything—to laugh about. I’m going to drink water and if I get panicky, I’m going to use my five senses to ground. I’m going to respect the feelings and needs of those around me, just like I always do, and I’m going to stay away from blame, just like I always do. I’m going to trim my nails, clean my clothes, take care of the cat, do my chores, and get out into nature and move my body. I’m going to keep it in today, and later on, I’m going to a meeting, where I can sink into a safe place where healing happens.
Tomorrow or the next day, I can start to imagine what will be born out of the death and loss that is today.
Some people who have helped me today and others who have helped in the past:
Anand Giridhasara writes The Ink, here on Substack.
He turned me on to Rebecca Solnik, who has an active Facebook page.
Heather Cox Richardson puts everything into historical perspective, as does Rachel Maddow with her stories of forgotten episodes in American history that echo what is happening today.
Lastly, a podcast. It’s Going to be Okay, which serves a daily short and sweet snippet on that theme, which is like a hug from a wise friend.
Now I would like to hear from you. How are you doing today? What’s on your mind? How are you taking care of yourself?
Today, I’m angry at the folks who didn’t step out of their comfort zone and make calls, send texts, write letters or knock on doors to defeat him. Now that we’ve lost, folks are ready to fight. 🤦
I needed your offering today. Yesterday I curled up into a ball metaphorically. Today I am doing left foot right foot. I have friends that voted R. My insides tell me to distance myself from them because our values are in dissonance. But that is also what separates us as a country. When I go to meetings I do not discuss politics. But maybe I need to be open to such discussions in other contexts. In any case I need to be respectful to all people even if I do not respect the values behind a political platform. Above all today I need to hear about keeping on keeping on. So, I thank you.