Resourcing the Revolution Mid-Month Missive: WTF? What am I going to do?

Hello, dear ones. There are times along our journey when we stop and think… What. The. Actual. Fuck.

The past four weeks have seen a torrent of change. Like the crashing of a thousand waves, all at once. Hardly time to take a breath, much less gather yourself before the next one comes crashing down.

And (I believe) this is all on purpose.

The magnitude of change happening in front of our eyes has been designed to overwhelm us. To cause us to withdraw. To stick our heads in the sand. To fear. To spiral in anxiety. To sow division and chaos.

Because divided, alone, blinders on, we are weak.

But together?

Eyes and hearts open?

We are fucking powerful.

So, rather than waiting until it's time for the usual monthly newsletter to drop in a couple of weeks, I'm sending you a mid-month missive.

One where we ask: what can I do? Now, without sending my system further into shock or doomscrolling anxiety spirals?

Without further ado, here are a few things we can do.

Action of the Moment: Do one small thing

If you're spiraling and spinning, not sure about what little 'ole you can do in this moment, stop and take a breath. This list, excerpted from the Carolina Workers’ Collective, gives some good basic "I don't know what to do?!?" ideas for where you can get started.

1. Don't panic. There is a tendency to want to do everything at once. But when we panic, we don't make good decisions.

2. Act locally. Organizing within your community to address the immediate needs of those most affected by the policies being implemented is the way we will build and sustain effective movements.

3. Look for people already doing the work. Look to established organizations already in your community and start there. Do you have a mutual aid organization where you are? Join it. Is someone else doing the kind of work you want to do? Ask them if you can help.

4. Focus. What is your goal? How do you best bring that about? Whenever you have an idea for an action to take, ask yourself:

"What do we want to accomplish?"
"Will this help to accomplish that goal?"
"How will it accomplish that goal?"
"Are there other ways that are more effective?"

5. Don't chase shadows. Prioritize what is most important and what can be ignored. We have seen so much time and energy spent on things like "Facebook made me follow Tr*mp!" Address the stuff that's actually important.

6. Get comfortable with the idea of breaking the law. We're not saying engage in civil disobedience with the intention of getting arrested. This accomplishes only depleting our resources and handing money to the state. But if they make getting abortion pills illegal, we have to make sure we get them to those who need them. No hormones for transition? We are doing hormones for transition. It is your obligation to ignore unjust laws.

7. Think twice before marching. Doing large-scale matches right now seems inappropriate for what we are facing. Besides the fact that it is very likely to be met with unprecedented state violence, the amount of time, effort, and money that goes into these large-scale, mostly feel-good actions takes away from the immediate needs of those who are most vulnerable. We don't need martyrs and we don't need to be in cages.

8. Don't give into partisanship. Those in power aren't going to help you regardless of what party they are in. Electoralism got us where we are right now.

9. Be kind to one another. We need to show compassion and empathy to ourselves and our communities. It is vitally important that we treat each other with respect so that we can present unity toward those who would harm us.

10. Be kind to yourself. Get rest. Carve out time to have fun. Go dancing. Smoke that bowl with your friends. We aren't doing the cause any good if we are exhausted and burned out. Leisure time is vitally important, and anyone who would criticize you for focusing on your mental and physical well-being isn't someone I would want to organize with.

...

I encourage you to follow the link above and read the whole list. I've just pulled out some of the more resonant (for me) pieces of their advice. Lots of good stuff.

It's like The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy says... don't panic.

Advice of the Moment: No putting your head in the sand

From Marianne Williamson on Substack:

I’m calm because I believe in my fellow Americans. I believe the vast majority of us - Republican as well as Democrat - know when a bridge is too far. Respect our Constitution. And I know a president is not a King.

So what can you do? I’ll tell you what you can do. Everyone reading this has one Congressperson and two Senators. Look them up… and call them. All three. Tell the person who answers the phone that this is a Constituent Call. They’ll ask your name and address and what message you’d like delivered to your Congressperson or Senator.

And tell them. … LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD. Tell them that as a voter you will support them if they oppose [this administration’s] overreach, and you will hold them accountable at the ballot box if they do not.

A friend brought the 5 Calls App to my attention this morning. They make it easy to identify your elected representatives and their contact information, and even provide scripts for you to use when you make the calls.

One call may not make a difference. But ALL of our calls will.

Reflection of the Moment: We live in precedented times (yes, really)

I find some hope in the reminders that the US has made it through cycles of violence, oppression, and fights for the soul of our country before.

If historical context helps take the edge off of some of your existential anxiety, this article from The Atlantic breaks down what is (and isn't) going on right now, in the context of our country's history.

“Indeed, it is only by seeing Trump’s subordinates and henchmen in their American context—in a land that has produced its share of racketeers, bullies, and thugs—that one can understand them at all.

For thoughtful patriots, the Trump moment needs also to be a reckoning with American history. We must come to accept that we are the country that was born with, and in some cases even embraced, the curse of slavery, but also with the principles that ultimately undermined it and which inspired the self-sacrifice of heroes who destroyed it. We despoiled much of our fabulous birthright of natural resources and beauty but also preserved huge swaths of it by creating the greatest national-park system in the world. We have supported dictators, and we have liberated nations. We produced Aaron Burr and George Washington, Preston Brooks and Abraham Lincoln, Donald Trump and John McCain.

Historical analogies cause us to stare out the window, when what we really need to do is look in the mirror.”

Song of the Moment: Here. Now.

The Power Is Here Now by Alexia Chellun

The power of love is here now
The power of now is here now
The power of you and me is here
To create magic on earth

Let the water wash away your tears
Let the fire burn away your fears
Let the wind blow into your life such faith and trust
Let the earth hold you, take care of you and nurture you

Reminder of the Moment: You are not alone

I don't have all the answers. I don't think anyone alone does.

But together, we do.

Collectively, we stand strong.

And so that's our next step. To breathe. To stand united for that which we believe in. For the more beautiful world we see as possible.

For humanity. For equality. For the future.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, bowled over by the shitstorm, you are not alone.

We are not alone.

I'll see you for our regularly scheduled newsletter in a few weeks (the volume 5 February edition). I'll dive deeper into our individual (and collective) roles in times of disruption, along with whatever else manages to arise in the meantime.

Until then, remember: together, we rise.