Self Care Amidst A Revolution

We're all "there," right? You know — at that point where you start to question how many more blows you (the collective you) can take, how many more stories can horrify you, how many more slaps the U.S. people can absorb without crumbling, before shutting down, before acquiescing to requests to just "move on" and "get over it."

Or... before you rise up and say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. 

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The despair and helplessness, at times, of knowing that millions upon millions have welcomed, with open arms, the intolerance and the hatred so boldly touted by the newest White House administration can be overwhelming on one hand, and igniting on the other. But how do you find that balance when you know the fight will be long? 

You read story after story about those suffering, and those that will suffer at the hands of what the Trump administration proposes and proposed to do. You hear the promises of repealing the ACA... with no alternative plan yet devised to replace it. You wonder what will happen to the 20 million that depend on it for their health insurance. You hear others boast that health care is a privilege for those who can afford it. You wonder what happened to caring about our fellow neighbor?

You hear the Trump catchphrase: "FAKE NEWS" (just one of the many that his supporters eat up out of his tiny, little hands) in response to real, actual news, and shake your head while remembering the "fake news" they so easily lapped up during the election. When you challenge their cries, they go silent. They delete their posts. They'd rather be embarrassed than wrong, and so they never learn.

You watch as the new president's first press conference as such, is lying about the size of his inauguration turn out. It doesn't surprise you. You remember when he attempted to boast about the size of his mini-trump during the elections. That's when you knew it had to be tiny.

You're told by  the administration that apparently we now have a thing called "alternative facts," ... you know, lies that the administration would like to present without challenge. And you say what in fuckety-fuck-fuck are alternative lies? And you brace yourself, because you know for as much as you abhor all that Kellyanne Conway spouts, she's a smart woman. She doesn't come up with things on the fly... you realize this is a term that she's been familiar with, that's probably been discussed behind the scenes. And that's slightly terrifying.

You witness the small chips away at freedom of speech. The censorship that's taking place, the war the administration is waging against the news... and you know it's time to start paying for the news. We need them more than ever. The administration must be held  accountable.

You're belittled.. most heavily by other women, for your participation in the march for equality through the Women's March... to see those same naysayers spouting their support and presence at the "March for Life." You remember... it's ok when it benefits them, and disgusting when it doesn't. You recall that those same March for Lifers don't give a fucking care about people once they're born... it's no longer their problem, apparently.

You read about the ban... that doesn't just affect "illegals" as apparently we're calling them these days. It affects legal green card holders, and those who paid their dues through the extensive refugee vetting process. Then you learn that dumb-dumbs out there actually believe we are a country that operates in a fashion of "opening the flood gates," because apparently even google is too sophisticated for their use. Your jaw drops, as ignorance is boasted as a superior quality. Ignorance is apparently en vogue.

You hear and see too often, those that will engage in a debate or dialogue, only to shortly thereafter self-identify themselves as the victims of online bullying, in response to being part of a grown-up conversation, and you ask yourself... why do I have to wear kid gloves to tell you it's NOT O.K. to be a bigoted, racist, xenophobic asshole? Do you need me to braid your hair while we discuss your lack of basic level competence and empathy?

You wonder why half the nation is chill that Putin is fucking Trump in the ass. It worries you that people can't deduce on a basic level that Putin literally owns Trump's ass, physically and financially. You're fascinated by those that claim to worry about voter fraud, yet aren't at the least curious about the findings regarding Russia's interference in our election.

​You hear the fiscal Republicans talk about fiscal responsibility, and watch as they cheer on an estimated $15 billion wall, while cutting funds to our arts, education, and environmental programs. BUT THANK GOD WE'LL HAVE A WALL.

You see what's happening. You understand that Trump is literally turning us into a real life version of Idiocracy and is cultivating a massive force comprised of the dumbest, most ignorant, most racist, most hateful, most dumb followers (did I mention lack of education and competence), and you wonder how you can survive in a world in which you're surrounded by people that couldn't debate a fucking rock, let alone grasp the concept of "your" versus "you're."

Self Care.

You drink. A lot. 
You enjoy political art by talented people.
You continue to read.
You show love and support to those from marginalized groups who are terrified right now.
You embrace equality.
You stop being silent.
You stop being nice.
Now is not the time for pleasantries. 
You start DOING.
You start informing.
You start attending... meetings everywhere. School board meetings. Political rallies. All of it.
You won't, for one second longer pretend it's a matter of opinion, when it comes to humanity.
You sleep.
You catch up with your friends and netflix binge.
You tune out from time to time to reboot, revitalized.
You make calls, hundreds and hundreds of calls to your representatives.

YOU DON'T BE A PASSIVE OBSERVER OR PARTICIPANT IN NORMALIZING HATE.

THESE THINGS ARE NOT NORMAL.

A racist is a racist.
A lie is a lie.
A misogynist is a misogynist.
A xenophobe is a xenophobe.
A dictator is a dictator.
Tiny hands are tiny hands.

There have been many times, after we've read about a historical monstrosity and said... "If we had been alive, we'd have done..."

Here's your chance. You're living it. What are you going to do?

And you're damn right I wrote this while sipping on my Starbucks.