Finding peace in an insane time

 

My husband and my therapist, are both very wise people whose opinions I value, have told me that I need to unplug and step away from the madness occasionally for my sanity and my health. So here are some things I am doing to resist the current administration's efforts to destroy my life: 

1. Continuing to work as a research scientist as if my entire industry isn't being threatened by a bunch of ignorant hooligans. 

2. Calling things what they are. I believe sugarcoating this situation in friendly euphemisms is dangerous. What Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and their collaborators are doing is violating the Constitution and they are committing treason. Elon Musk is an oligarch who purchased our country for $300 Million in mediocre propaganda. Donald Trump is a sad puppet who is allowing Elon Musk to run our country like some start-up he bought. 

3. I am amplifying others' voices by sharing articles (and art) and disseminating information however I can. Sometimes that means posting on social media, sometimes that is exchanging horrific news stories with my friends and loved ones, sometimes that is telling a right-wing nutjob that they are wrong. Other times it's posting hideous pictures of Elon Musk and Donald Trump because they are vain, sad little men I will undermine them as much as possible. 

4. I'm listening to Taylor Swift. I like her music, it's great, and it's full of feminine rage that sounds really cheery until you actually listen to the lyrics and then you are like "Oh shit, that is dark". I think it really captures the duplicity of girlhood/womanhood, of being both a flower maiden and the queen of the underworld (shout out to Persephone). 

5. I am embracing my feminine rage. Women and girls have long been socialized to be quiet and ladylike. I'm going to be honest, this is something I always struggled with because I am curious, I have many strong opinions, and sometimes I cannot keep my mouth shut. This has caused issues for me in the past, and I'm sure it will cause issues for me in the future. But I'm done making myself small and palatable for a society that is going to demonize me no matter what I do. 

6. I'm doing a lot of knitting, mostly it's been flaming dumpster-fire beverage koozies, the pattern for which is courtesy of Pacific Knit Co, who posted the pattern on Instagram. I might make a flaming dumpster fire scarf next. 

7. I'm only buying from organizations that are continuing to support DEI initiatives and that are resisting the Trump Musk presidency. Actually, I'm not really spending much more than is necessary right now because I'm assuming that prices aren't going down any time soon. 

8. We are planning a garden. I'm not going to lie, this is primarily my husband's project, but I'm excited to grow stuff. That's right, we are bringing back victory gardens. Fighting fascism 1940's style. 

9. I'm finding joy in the little things: like how silly my dog is; how sexy my husband is while he is ... breathing, existing, murdering Nazis in video games; reading whatever interests me like I always have; exercising in whatever way appeals to me at the moment; spending time on self-care like doing my hair and my nails and continuing my previously abandoned search of the perfect red lipstick. Fun Fact: Hitler hated red lipstick, so it became a symbol of rebellion against the Nazi regime to the point that it was part of the uniform for women serving in the US armed services. 

10. I'm learning how to play the guitar. I'm still terrible, but it's so soothing. Some day I will be able to play and sing Jolene at the same time. 

Stay strong out there, Vive la resistance!