Six ideas to begin gaining perspective, finding equilibrium and moving forward
You’re on a surfboard. You’ve been on the board countless times before, graduating over time from small to larger waves.
You revel in the mist on your face; the smooth slide across the water. Sometimes you fall; other times the ride feels effortless, brazen, wild. When you’re paddling out from the shore, you’re on the lookout for the next wave. You know it’s coming. You’re waiting for it and you’re prepared. Every run you’ve ever had has equipped you for this next one. You have experience.
What have you been preparing for?
This moment.
A dear friend gave me the surfing analogy this past weekend in response to the presidential election results. I was inert, struggling with a sense of betrayal, as though the American ideal itself had let me down. I grieved. At the same time, I could admit that I’d hoped that shutting down the vicious vitriol and gross denigration of others would be easy. I like to be comfortable.
Instead, I am being called to this moment.
I could see that a lot of people were hurting on both sides of the election. I wanted to step up, do my part, but I’ve felt despair. So, I started searching for inspiration and clarity through articles and essays and also joined others in thoughtful conversations. I’ve heard a treasure trove. Here are six insights from others that are helping me.
The previous surfing analogy. We’ve been preparing for this: This moment.
Frederick Douglass, a freed slave and abolitionist who declared four years beforethe start of the U.S. Civil War, “The fiat of the Almighty, ‘Let there be Light,’ has not yet spent its force.” Douglass said this in reference to the idea that no abuse or outrage can hide itself from the light. The quote comes from a speech he gave on the Fourth of July 1852 called, “What to a Slave is the 4th of July?” He sought to embrace abolition and to change their ideas about the intelligence and abilities of African Americans. Reread it. Here he is making a bold statement when slavery is deeply institutionalized, supported by the government, and proponents are hellbent on expanding slavery into the West. Douglass was not impressed by the external evidence of slavery having the upper hand. His courageous faith and stance inspire me.
Lyrics from Leonard Cohen’s masterpiece, “Anthem”:
Ring the bells that still can ringForget your perfect offeringThere is a crack, a crack in everythingThat's how the light gets in.
The old, tired ideas of dominance over others. Honestly, humanity has so much experience with hatred. I feel the exhaustion of it. Vaclav Havel said, “Truth and love will overcome lies and hatred.” Havel was a dissident/statesman and author/poet who led the Velvet Revolution that ended Communist rule in the Czech Republic. His quote stirs me. I’m asserting truth and love; I’m getting stronger.
Thanks to other writers on Substack I’m now aware that lots of entities have been preparing for the election results. I discovered that the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) has a gameplan addressing Project 2025. Their statement “despair and resignation is not a strategy” spoke right to my heart. In response, I’ve joined the ACLU. Similarly, Waging Nonviolence posted a thoughtful article about 10 ways to be prepared and grounded in these times. The article states, “Authoritarian power is derived from fear of repression, isolation from each other and exhaustion at the utter chaos.” I feel this fatigue. But now I’m alerted to be a better watch guard over my inner state. For both the ACLU and Waging Nonviolence, the very existence of these braintrusts (and many others) gives me a feeling of not being alone. That’s a small win. For authoritarianism feeds on loneliness.
Finally, I’m reminded that protest, derisive politics and political rancor have always been a part of the American experience. When my mom was alive, she and I had our own little book club of reading biographies of U.S. Presidents. The repetitious swing of our U.S. presidents from hero to villain in the eyes of the public revealed how quickly the tide can turn and yesterday’s savior become tomorrow’s scapegoat. There’s no guarantee that history will repeat itself, but I am recognizing that the mighty have fallen more than once.
Progress is happening. It feels important to acknowledge this and so I’ve departed from my usual Van Gogh wandering in this week’s newsletter. Thank you for being here.
We’re up for this; we’re prepared.
This moment.
Warmly,
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