Now it's 3 weeks ...

(If you received this blog by email, you might want to visit the actual site. The pictures work much better there. 

Just click on the title “Now it's 3 ...”)

Still bummed. Still struggling to find a way through the post election shock and toward some positive trajectory forward. Whatever “forward” means in this uncharted territory, where a billionaire reigns as the “people’s president-elect.” Where we have no idea what our future president will actually do about all the issues that lie ahead—national and international—or what he actually believes about just about anything. A landscape piled high with the toxic detritus of the pre-election campaign, with the post-election rise in hate crimes of all sorts. In a world where the Oxford English Dictionary just declared the word of the year to be “post-truth,” and where “fake news” guides the decision-making of voters—and, arguably, some winning politicians.

Yet, the uncertain future of our fellow humans, global politics, and the fragile environment notwithstanding, I continue to aspire to an active, engaged, determined, hopeful … maybe fantastic approach to the world we have, even though (or more accurately, precisely because) it threatens the world I wish we had. 

Maybe this is the place to mention that my soul seems not entirely settled from the upheaval of Nov. 8. This despite many miles walked (even—happily!—in the snow) ...

...  and a staycation in Denver, sleeping in, having coffee with the morning news, and going to movies … with a bit of work in the down times. The other morning, I woke up from a half dream, half conscious conversation with myself about a sudden clear awareness that there’s a limit to how much people can endure and remain sane. Maybe it came directly from the election, knowing that some people are literally fighting for their lives here. Maybe from trying to explain my own recent illness to a friend, when it seems to have so many roots. Maybe from hearing that an acquaintance recently had a “nervous breakdown” (whatever that means) from too much life stress.  Or maybe, I speculated at the time, because much as I would like to rise phoenix-like from my post-election crash, the whole situation still feels pretty much too awful to consider.

Still, being active is all we have, if we’re to (a) stay sane ourselves and (b) make some kind of difference in this totally unacceptable, insane circumstance. So, onward! 

A friend recently asked me to share what I was doing in the way of being active, so I thought I’d mention a few things I’ve been doing to stay sane during the past couple of weeks. In my last blog, I told you about picking up dog poop in the bike path (a major step at the time), upping my contributions to some orgs I believe in, and trying to understand the folks who supported Trump (at least some of them) instead of villianizing them. Well now, I’ve graduated to actually entering the social and cultural world, breaking (slightly) out of my post-election isolation.  This daring escape into shared reality (broadly construed) has included seeing some thought-provoking movies (“Moonlight,” with race and sexual orientation intertwined; “Loving,” a 50-year-old story for these so-called modern times; and “Arrival,” which says far more about openness to communication than about aliens); a visit to the Universe Canticle, a massive hand-sewn work depicting the origin and evolution of the universe (including the current threat of climate change) crafted by women from rural South Africa whose lives are affected by HIV/AIDS; volunteering to review a nascent website for Community Food Share, an activity that could easily lead to more vol work there; and joining in a group project to send letters to President Obama in support of the water protectors at Standing Rock. None of these was huge, but together, they help dissipate that ominous feeling of powerlessness.

Upcoming community events where I plan to participate include Tuesday’s community gathering, “Moving Toward Collective Liberation,” and a Friends-sponsored movie/discussion about relationships between the dominant culture and indigenous peoples. Again, nothing huge, but all snowflakes in the avalanche. For the longer haul, I’m working with my partner and folks from Out Boulder, A Queer Endeavor, and other local orgs to create a “People’s Inaugural,” where individuals and groups will launch their personal/collective “First 100 Days” programs. The idea, borrowed (with permission) from a friend of a friend of my partner, is to mirror presidents’ promises for their "first 100 days"—typically a very ambitious package of goals which, if met, would move their agenda along toward their imagined "legacy."

In this case, folks will be invited to create—individually or in groups—their own "first 100-day plan" to begin on inauguration day, Jan. 20, 2017. Ultimately, all of these 100-day plans combined will collectively move us toward our ultimate aim of leaving a "people's legacy" of actions that protect existing human rights and move us toward greater equality, that protect the environment, and that support peace in the world.

An immodest goal, I know. But isn’t it an awesome image, really? Lots of people, each taking responsibility for making positive change in their own world, as we collectively launch our parallel agenda to whatever happens in Washington and Trump Tower.

Awesome enough to ease me into a restful night’s sleep with no rough awakening to angst and dread.

© Janis Bohan, 2010-2015. Use of this content is welcome with attribution and a link to the post. 

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