I think it's impossible not to feel overwhelmed, particularly in a world where we are incessantly bombarded with information our brains cannot fully process. Building and sustaining community takes intention and courage, and community is always stronger than the individual <3
I have been contemplating courage too, and don't have an exact answer for myself. I've donated, I've protested, and I've surrounded & uplifted myself with my immediate community. I'll still do these things, but I feel helpless, and I'm honestly more fearful this time around.
One little way I'm starting (that feels right) is to be a bit more courageously authentic in my art (I have a Substack post in my drafts about this lol so it's funny I stumbled across your post). Not that I wasn't authentic before...but I write a lot of abstract poetry and I feel like I sometimes hide behind imagery to not get backlash online or from family.
So to channel the bishop's strength, I want to be a bit more direct in my work and share how I view/respond to society as well as be more direct about my personal truths (some I've buried), even if I lose followers, even if I cause friction...because it's important, I think.
I'd love to hear what's resonating and working with you, too!
Oh Amy, I feel all of this. I feel much more afraid this time around, and after these first few days of swift, decisive executive action, I believe we are right to be afraid. Being authentic in art is cathartic and necessary for me. At this point, I've written several poems, including If Adam Picked the Apple, that have drawn significant ire from those with opposing viewpoints. It can be uncomfortable, and yet, I feel more confident knowing I'm producing art that aligns with my values. For me, my writing has been and always will be, political. While I certainly write about topics that are less divisive, so much of my writing is impacted by my experience of being a highly sensitive human who feels deeply impacted by human rights. I've certainly found that by writing as I do I can lose followers on social media or even be censored by the IG algorithm, but I remind myself that at the end of my life, I want to know that I remained conscientious, tethered to what I know to be right.
This is lovely, Danielle. Thank you. I'm all about building community, and as a queer, aging, Jewish, single woman, I've been doing that my whole life. I've found new and inspiring comrades here in Substackland, and I have it in my hometown. And now, because of the wonders of the internet (which is also pretty toxic at times) and Zoom, I'm building connections internationally. I will write stories, stand in my truth, and hopefully make people smile and think. xo
Nan you are an inspiration when it comes to building community and sharing truth through vulnerability. I find constant comfort in reading your words and look up to you as I see you forging a path for yourself and others that I strive to pave for myself.
Oh my dear. We're all just doing the best we can. And thank you for that wonderful compliment. I could say the same of you. We're in this together. It's life. Sometimes it sucks, and sometimes it's beautiful, and most of the time it's both at once. xo
I wonder if I am apathetic. Or just old. Just feeling like this ebbing and swaying, the tides following the people's outcry and their lying low, is the nature of things.
I have never, in all my life, felt that the US as I know it would be around forever. It is hubris, it is a short view of history to think that we are special, that our republic is sacred, that we will endure no matter what--just look at the Romans, look at the Spanish. Look at the BRITS. Kingdoms rise and they fall--just look at the Native Americas in all their glory--the Incas, the Aztecs. The Mayans.
No, I have never felt secure. I have always known that we are just a gnat's breath away from living like all those OTHER people in the world.
And now the freedoms I have enjoyed.... to see these whittled away, not just for people of color or LBGTQ+ persons in that space like my daughter, but for WHITE women. Oh woe is us white* women. Here's to you who voted him in--they are coming for all of us now. Did you know that certain Republicans, not all certainly, want to do away with the Child Care Tax Credit? Good luck with all that. My children are long grown and I have no grandchildren but woe is unto you who think God will shroud you from all these possibly-coming harms.
Seriously it is a time on the edge. But I'm 60. We've lived on the edge before. Have we had such a bafoonish cartoon-character-writ large as president before? Not quite. Not in my lifetime. But we've had deeply racist presidents, terribly cruel presidents. We've had presidents who curved the arc of history downward. I've seen all this. And I encourage anyone looking at this deportation Trump quagmire to look at the numbers over time--look at which presidents have done what. And look into Eisenhower, good old Ike. We have a long and complicated history with immigration, much of it very ugly to look at.
In all these times, life in the US is like being on one of those pirate rides, those big boats that swing up, then swing down. Most Americans are moderate, things swing left, then right, then left, then right again. Most people do not want sweeping changes, they want a slow steady pace of progression. But the greedy chomp into this progress and worry it with their teethy mouths as though the people are their prey. Which they are. Which is what sucks the most.
And what will I do about it? I dunno. Probably nothing much. I give money. I give mouth and pen and paintbrush. I give argument. I give lying low and keeping quiet. And then I spout off like this in a comment.
Thank you for posting, Danielle, as always. Thank you for all you do in this space.
*(but really, women's "rights," for whites or people of color, have always been limited--there's always some man with a plan shining spotlights into our vaginas. but us white women have felt a sort of cushion...I still do truth be told)
Rebecca I so appreciate you taking the time to write such a thoughtful comment. I've read it several times because I appreciate your ability to zoom out, which when we're living through anything feels impossible to do at times. I was a History major, so intellectually, I know everything you say is true...civilizations rise and fall, there is no country or empire who remains ahead indefinitely, and yet, in our small, fragile, insignificant lives, it feels unbearable to watch rights we've fought for over the centuries stripped away. That being said, the history of our country is grounded in exploitation and the blood of so many, and yet, we are stubborn and continue to believe it's possible to build something different.
Of course, white women have been in proximity to power in Europe and the United States, nothing shows how much they still want to cling to it more than how white women voted in November. I think what you shared is valuable-donating money when possible, using voice/pen/art to the cause, leaning in when we can-every tiny act of resistance matters. It all takes courage.
Really says it all about courage and the times. Working at a food pantry I see a sort of KIND COURAGE all the time from the volunteers, and it makes me strong enough to face another day. I work at the local political office and have confronted many people, and it is so discouraging when I realize there is no changing their views. Still, I have hope when I see her tell it like it is to his face.
It takes so much courage to speak directly to someone's face that way knowing you will receive backlash. Not all of us have the capacity to do it, but it certainly inspires us to find our own courageous ways of resisting. I love that you see kind courage where you volunteer. There is so much of it out there.
And I think it is possible to build something different, and we have done, but it may be that it's ebbing away. I think the lesson for me is that we cannot force people to do right, to be better. When we try this is always backfires. I don't know what to do, but I do know I can't beat people over the head with my own best intentions. More's the pity.
Thank you for this. I at times feel so overwhelmed.
But one of my focus areas for 2025 is community. And building and sustaining that community is courage.
I think it's impossible not to feel overwhelmed, particularly in a world where we are incessantly bombarded with information our brains cannot fully process. Building and sustaining community takes intention and courage, and community is always stronger than the individual <3
Thank you for this. Beautifully written.
I have been contemplating courage too, and don't have an exact answer for myself. I've donated, I've protested, and I've surrounded & uplifted myself with my immediate community. I'll still do these things, but I feel helpless, and I'm honestly more fearful this time around.
One little way I'm starting (that feels right) is to be a bit more courageously authentic in my art (I have a Substack post in my drafts about this lol so it's funny I stumbled across your post). Not that I wasn't authentic before...but I write a lot of abstract poetry and I feel like I sometimes hide behind imagery to not get backlash online or from family.
So to channel the bishop's strength, I want to be a bit more direct in my work and share how I view/respond to society as well as be more direct about my personal truths (some I've buried), even if I lose followers, even if I cause friction...because it's important, I think.
I'd love to hear what's resonating and working with you, too!
Oh Amy, I feel all of this. I feel much more afraid this time around, and after these first few days of swift, decisive executive action, I believe we are right to be afraid. Being authentic in art is cathartic and necessary for me. At this point, I've written several poems, including If Adam Picked the Apple, that have drawn significant ire from those with opposing viewpoints. It can be uncomfortable, and yet, I feel more confident knowing I'm producing art that aligns with my values. For me, my writing has been and always will be, political. While I certainly write about topics that are less divisive, so much of my writing is impacted by my experience of being a highly sensitive human who feels deeply impacted by human rights. I've certainly found that by writing as I do I can lose followers on social media or even be censored by the IG algorithm, but I remind myself that at the end of my life, I want to know that I remained conscientious, tethered to what I know to be right.
Amen! And I thank you for your poetry. I love it all and because you speak your truth, it resonates deeply <3
I can’t wait to read more of yours as you start to explore and share your own personal truths through writing. 💛
This is lovely, Danielle. Thank you. I'm all about building community, and as a queer, aging, Jewish, single woman, I've been doing that my whole life. I've found new and inspiring comrades here in Substackland, and I have it in my hometown. And now, because of the wonders of the internet (which is also pretty toxic at times) and Zoom, I'm building connections internationally. I will write stories, stand in my truth, and hopefully make people smile and think. xo
Nan you are an inspiration when it comes to building community and sharing truth through vulnerability. I find constant comfort in reading your words and look up to you as I see you forging a path for yourself and others that I strive to pave for myself.
Oh my dear. We're all just doing the best we can. And thank you for that wonderful compliment. I could say the same of you. We're in this together. It's life. Sometimes it sucks, and sometimes it's beautiful, and most of the time it's both at once. xo
I wish I had learned that when I was younger, but yes, I have come to learn and accept that most of the time it truly is both.
Me too. Learning about holding contrast has been immensely helpful in holding my tendency toward black and white thinking in a gentler light. xo
I wonder if I am apathetic. Or just old. Just feeling like this ebbing and swaying, the tides following the people's outcry and their lying low, is the nature of things.
I have never, in all my life, felt that the US as I know it would be around forever. It is hubris, it is a short view of history to think that we are special, that our republic is sacred, that we will endure no matter what--just look at the Romans, look at the Spanish. Look at the BRITS. Kingdoms rise and they fall--just look at the Native Americas in all their glory--the Incas, the Aztecs. The Mayans.
No, I have never felt secure. I have always known that we are just a gnat's breath away from living like all those OTHER people in the world.
And now the freedoms I have enjoyed.... to see these whittled away, not just for people of color or LBGTQ+ persons in that space like my daughter, but for WHITE women. Oh woe is us white* women. Here's to you who voted him in--they are coming for all of us now. Did you know that certain Republicans, not all certainly, want to do away with the Child Care Tax Credit? Good luck with all that. My children are long grown and I have no grandchildren but woe is unto you who think God will shroud you from all these possibly-coming harms.
Seriously it is a time on the edge. But I'm 60. We've lived on the edge before. Have we had such a bafoonish cartoon-character-writ large as president before? Not quite. Not in my lifetime. But we've had deeply racist presidents, terribly cruel presidents. We've had presidents who curved the arc of history downward. I've seen all this. And I encourage anyone looking at this deportation Trump quagmire to look at the numbers over time--look at which presidents have done what. And look into Eisenhower, good old Ike. We have a long and complicated history with immigration, much of it very ugly to look at.
In all these times, life in the US is like being on one of those pirate rides, those big boats that swing up, then swing down. Most Americans are moderate, things swing left, then right, then left, then right again. Most people do not want sweeping changes, they want a slow steady pace of progression. But the greedy chomp into this progress and worry it with their teethy mouths as though the people are their prey. Which they are. Which is what sucks the most.
And what will I do about it? I dunno. Probably nothing much. I give money. I give mouth and pen and paintbrush. I give argument. I give lying low and keeping quiet. And then I spout off like this in a comment.
Thank you for posting, Danielle, as always. Thank you for all you do in this space.
*(but really, women's "rights," for whites or people of color, have always been limited--there's always some man with a plan shining spotlights into our vaginas. but us white women have felt a sort of cushion...I still do truth be told)
Rebecca I so appreciate you taking the time to write such a thoughtful comment. I've read it several times because I appreciate your ability to zoom out, which when we're living through anything feels impossible to do at times. I was a History major, so intellectually, I know everything you say is true...civilizations rise and fall, there is no country or empire who remains ahead indefinitely, and yet, in our small, fragile, insignificant lives, it feels unbearable to watch rights we've fought for over the centuries stripped away. That being said, the history of our country is grounded in exploitation and the blood of so many, and yet, we are stubborn and continue to believe it's possible to build something different.
Of course, white women have been in proximity to power in Europe and the United States, nothing shows how much they still want to cling to it more than how white women voted in November. I think what you shared is valuable-donating money when possible, using voice/pen/art to the cause, leaning in when we can-every tiny act of resistance matters. It all takes courage.
Really says it all about courage and the times. Working at a food pantry I see a sort of KIND COURAGE all the time from the volunteers, and it makes me strong enough to face another day. I work at the local political office and have confronted many people, and it is so discouraging when I realize there is no changing their views. Still, I have hope when I see her tell it like it is to his face.
It takes so much courage to speak directly to someone's face that way knowing you will receive backlash. Not all of us have the capacity to do it, but it certainly inspires us to find our own courageous ways of resisting. I love that you see kind courage where you volunteer. There is so much of it out there.
And I think it is possible to build something different, and we have done, but it may be that it's ebbing away. I think the lesson for me is that we cannot force people to do right, to be better. When we try this is always backfires. I don't know what to do, but I do know I can't beat people over the head with my own best intentions. More's the pity.
That's true, it can't be forced, it has to be something people want. Forced compliance has rarely (if ever) changed anyone's perspective.