In this strange world that we find ourselves in this new year, there are a lot of emotions swirling in the collective consciousness. Anxiety, fear, anger, uncertainty. The political sphere is an undeniable part of this, as is global warming and environmental concerns, social change, and the development of possibly harmful technology. At least, this is what makes me most fearful.
The pull to simply give up is strong. Disengage. Disassociate. Self-medicate. Taking a break from reality can become wallowing in the blink of an eye.
Since the election, I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking deeply about why so many people are afraid. And why, to assuage their fears, they voted for a candidate that is a strict father archetype. Someone who says he will both take care of you and punish the people you blame for your life’s problems. I can understand the impulse to have someone make all the tough decisions for you, the desire to finally get what you think you deserve, even the hunger for vengeance.
Is it possible to find connection and form bonds with people with whom we feel we have no common ground? I truly believe that the more you talk to people, the more you’ll find you have in common. When you get down to it, we all want the same things. So, how do we all move forward together—past fear, without giving away our agency & power—and gain self-confidence, feel safe & serene, and create a better world?
Here’s what I’m planning to do:
Getting engaged in my immediate community: meeting and befriending my neighbors, picking up trash along the streets as I walk my dogs, finding ways to volunteer my time in my village, having a block party, going to town halls, having a picnic at my local park, spending money locally when I can, going to local events, going to Kaleva Days.
Buying less: growing my own herbs & vegetables, darning, mending, sewing clothes, thrifting, trading, borrowing, up-cycling, learning basic carpentry, hunting—getting back into archery, canning and preserving, borrowing books from the library, and simply making do with less.
Taking care of my body & mind: yoga, running, completing some more races, gardening, hiking, walking my dogs, resting, eating more veggies, eating less sugar & fewer processed foods, meditating, having a bedtime, drinking more water, seeing the doctor/dentist/optometrist when I should, setting strict screen time limits, making art, lifting weights.
Spending time with people off-line: crafting or creating art with friends & family, Pride marches & parades, activism, volunteering, community clean ups, local music, visiting local museums or art galleries, phone ban—being fully present with people when I’m with them, dinner parties, listening to the radio, beach days, board game nights, time with the girlies, being kind to the people who cross my path during the day.
I know it’s not big, showy stuff, it’s all pretty basic. Maybe it’s too idealistic, thinking that small changes in small communities will eventually spread out into large change. I’m also not saying to abandon the big change-making moves like voting, talking to politicians, or protesting. These small things just feel more accessible to me right now. I feel we’ve largely lost touch with people and our world on an immediate, local level. Our connections are superficial and fleeting. We’re overstimulated. The big picture is that I’m aiming to ground and unplug. My animal body knows what it needs to feel safe—it’s the product of thousands of years living at one with nature in small, tight-knit groups.
I hope you, too, will mull over how you want to make yourself and your part of the world better and then take small, concrete steps towards doing that. We need everyone, together.