As humans, we have both the power to remember and the laxness to forget. This is not a time to be lax, lazy, or loose with what’s most important — our safety, trust in one another, and ongoing concerns about others’ (and our own) physical and mental wellness. The stresses and strains of these past many years have been weighty and encumbering, even numbing at times.
In such circumstances, it’s understandable that we often get tired, weak, and frustrated (among other things). In those moments, it’s sometimes easy to consider giving up and giving in. In the process of letting go of our power, we lose some of our strength and resiliency to continue fighting for and building what is most appropriate: our families, relationships, communities, and workplaces.
Donald Trump’s blistering, never-ending blasts are designed, among other things, to distract us to the point of abject frustration such that we feel compelled to give in and give up. This is precisely what he and his team of narcissists want. His daily digressions are intended to pull us away from the heinous things he has done in his name and for his legacy. And there is every reason to believe these behaviors and iterations will continue as long as there is Epstein, a 37-39% approval rating, a broken and unresolved war, ICE, MAGA, a huge immigration mess, and so much more that Trump has created during his White House stay.
With all of this, and those above are merely a few headlines, it is easy to want, need, and take a day off (or longer) from active engagement in our hurting democracy. Again, this is what he hopes for. We must not give in or give up, as we are treading threadbare in our democratic “experiment”. So, what to do?
For one thing, we can admit to exhaustion. This is real, and it’s something we must live with day in, and day out. Many of us must learn and practice sleeping better. Take the breaks you need the most, and feel good about the fact that you can, and should. And the importance of striving to eat healthily cannot be overstated. That part is challenging, especially in Franklin County, when so many folks struggle with food insecurity on a daily basis.
But the good news is that there’s help here, in our community, on many days of every week. I’m a regular volunteer chef with Stone Soup Café, and I know well the power of cooking meals for 500-plus individuals in our communities. Avail yourself of these possibilities and opportunities. And if you can spare a few dollars to help out, it’s even more of a win/win. All of this adds up, and it is up to each of us to make the most and best of ourselves by being able to show up fully every day.
It takes ongoing diligence to keep ourselves strong, focused, and vital. To function at anywhere near our peak capacity, it’s critical that we practice all manner of self-care, and teach and support others (including our children, elders, and those needing special care and additional support) to do so as well. It is true that a community functions well, and better, when the majority of its members are healthy. Asking for help, care, and concern is not illegal; is actually advantageous as well as courageous.
We are like musical instruments in a huge orchestra: to have a strong voice and constitution, to be able to read well and produce, we must keep ourselves tuned up as much as possible. We need to be alive and well to be fully and positively responsive to the steady stream of bad news and the stolid stench coming from it — and we need all of us! And beyond our responsiveness, we can redirect our future by initiating and agitating for change by speaking and acting first rather than continually waiting to receive yet more dreaded news.
We should know and believe that we are the ones who are needed the most to fight for change — both for it and against it as necessary and appropriate. We have a civic responsibility to try to be change-makers since too many of those we’ve elected are going about it in the wrong ways. Although most of us don’t run for office, we can certainly walk to our voting booths, we can join stand-outs, we can make our way to critical meetings. And we can write, sing, and move our bodies to be felt, seen, and heard.
Here’s what I think is the bottom line: don’t let Trump’s lies, filthy behaviors, and utterances get the best of us. He proved himself long ago: he is evil, vile, full of hate, and absolutely serious about dismantling our democracy. We must be at full strength to be able to fight back fully without relenting, no matter what he throws at us. Above all, we must protect and take care of ourselves and one another.
Daniel Cantor Yalowitz, Ed.D., writes a regular column for the Recorder. He in an intercultural and developmental psychologist and writes about issues focused on human and civil rights, human values, and his ongoing commitment to create a better world for us all. Reach out to him at danielcyalowitz@gmail.com.