All the Headlines include shouts of 100 Days. Where he’s at, what he’s done, what the ratings say, what might come next.
We all know he = the AngryMango, yes? Yes. Cool cool.
It’s only been 100 days? It feels like it’s been 100 years.
100 days of increased anxiety, of deepened depression, of a near inability to see past what’s right in front of me.
I’ve questioned the safety of my family and friends, thought about travel abroad vs. sheltering in place, and reflected on my marriage and how we’re surely on a list somewhere, aren’t we?
I’ve wondered about the AI bots trolling the internet looking for words like queer and diverse and inclusive and climate crisis and mental health and thought they couldn’t possibly care about this site or my farm site or my bold and queer family history website, could they?
But who are “they” and where might the list be and why the hell might an administration of the USA think everything they’ve done and are continuing to do across the board is not only OK, but is the best choice?
And yet, my community is strong, my family is safe, my new meds are working, we have food in the pantry, and there’s nothing more hopeful than the flush of Spring:
Pushing seeds into soil…
Listening to the buzz of the busy bees…
Watching the perennials make their way into the world…
Catching the scent of wild plum blossoms on the breeze…
Relishing the first herbs on my tongue before they’re added to a recipe…
Knowing that abundance lays in wait before us, if we can just get through this liminal time of unknowing.
There was a silent slight at an event that sent waves across Bluesky and the tech world a little over a month ago. A punch back at another silent insistence a while back that one (Zuckerberg) should be compared to another (Caesar) and therefore seen as…what? Above all others?
It was so simple, and made me grin, so I bought the shirt in support of another option, another path forward.
Fitting that I picked up the shirt from the Post Office today, no?
I may wear it every day.
Goodness I’m sick of living through unprecedented times. I bet we all are. But now is the time to do whatever we can.
Go sit in the grass and let the sun warm your back…
Pick up a few extra things at the grocery store…
Check on your neighbors…
Sign those Resistbot petitions…
Order that small appliance you’ve been meaning to…
Plant some seeds…
Make a plan…
Visit a Library…
Attend a protest…
Volunteer anywhere you’d like…
Write in your journal…
Buy the shirt.
Practice self care and activism however works for you each and every day.
Together is the only way we’ll all make it through this.
I’d love to hear how you’re doing and what you’re doing during this great (and continuous) upheaval. Please share in the comments if you’re comfortable doing so 🙂
Onward,
Melissa
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I want to take the advice to get out in nature — as soon as the oak trees stop pollinating around here.
I tamp down the fears with the hope that I’m small enough to be low on the list. That’s relying on a trust of others to use their larger platforms. I hadn’t heard about Jay Graber’s t-shirt. That’s wonderful and gives me hope.
I wrote about my daily practice for the D is for Daily post: https://www.joyweesemoll.com/2025/04/04/d-is-for-daily-atozchallenge/
Nature can be tricky this time of year, for sure! I’m glad to have given you hope with the t-shirt. Even the smallest acts of resistance add up 🙂 Thank you for the reminder about your Daily post, I’m going to read it again as I could use all the tips I can gather, over and over again when necessary. Hope your week is wonderful!
Thanks for writing this! It has been a fine balance of engaging and protecting myself this year, so I hear you. I am trying to limit myself to minimal news/rehashing intake. So one short podcast with the headlines and one or two political newsletters/articles are it for the day. It’s enough to keep me informed without making me spiral.
Spending actual face time, no phones, with family is also really grounding.
I’m a nonprofit professional, so engaging with mission driven organizations on a regular basis reminds me how many people (including me) continue to work towards a better, more equitable world. And that really helps me keep my head up!
I definitely call my elected officials and attend the town halls, for what it’s worth.
The music, books, and walks are all good boosts, too. Getting my regular daily dose!
Glad to hear about all you are doing, and I love the shirt! Keep being bold & queer. The world needs you.
I’m so glad this resonated with you, Jessica! And thank you so much for sharing how you’re doing and what you’re doing to keep yourself sane and moving forward. I will, indeed, keep being bold and queer 🙂 I don’t know any other way to be and so appreciate your kind words!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Melissa. I am tired of all this awfulness, and I feel helpless in the face of it, and that’s terrible, too. I shall take your list of suggestions and try to do some of them.
I’m glad some of my suggestions have resonated with you! We have to find balance and moments of joy where we can, it’s getting wilder by the day out there :-/