Yeah, I hear ya, and feel the same...BUT I cannot keep myself in a state that will do me harm (move me into clinical depression or keep my body full of adrenaline/high blood pressure/too little sleep, etc.). So, I am continually working on "being" in a better state (I flee to Eckhart Tolle on Youtube), and that leaves me much more functional and I can even enjoy momentary joy. It's a struggle and we all have to find our way to some level of dealing well with "what is." If only 4 years, it will be a lonnnngggggg time.
Everything about the election and what has happened since is horrible and all are feeling it. But for all women it is even worse because both the 2016 and the 2024 elections have told us loud and clear that no matter how smart, experienced, well prepared and hard working a woman is, a totally incompetent male is preferred. What a gut punch.
Sixty years ago, in another turbulent era, a young man named Bob Dylan penned 'The Times They Are a-Changin'. They are as appropriate today as they were then.
Liza, you’re not alone. Nor are you carrying that entire load by yourself. You have friends, followers, and subscribers who are carrying some part of that load, too.
Please, for all of us, do what you do best. See clearly, write insightfully, and make us laugh a little. (I loved the clown car cartoon because it did all that and more.)
Don’t carry more weight than your being wants to lift… be truly KIND to
Y O U R S E L F FIRST…. For as long as it takes you to recover your CENTER. Your SPIRIT. Your Belief in your Gift .. the messages you bring us with delight and hopefulness in the goodness at the core of humanity.
Thank you, RIck. It's good to know you all are around and that there are good people to help the situation. I didn't doubt it--just have to remember it.
I'm trying to figure out how to be, too. Mine is in my personal life. I want to "lead with love" but I'm also so angry at everyone who voted for this horrific situation (as well as the ones who didn't vote at all--they're culpable, too). How do I go forward with these people? Do I even want to? It feels like talking to people, reaching out, building bridges (the preferred method of most liberals I know as well as Kamala & Tim) didn't do anything at all. Both of my sisters repeated Trump & Fox news lies. I tried to counter it with the truth (delivered respectfully and peacefully--I was entirely open to talk with them point by point). One wouldn't hear it (shut down the conversation and then went silent), the other said she'll "do her research." (She didn't.) I can't help but think they're unreachable, so what do *I* do with that? (By the way, thank you for your reporting, Liza, and specifically for telling us how you feel about what's happening. It's like having a really talented friend to commiserate with. Your posts are one of the few I can bear right now.)
You are so right. My desire is to "lead with love" as you say, but it is challenging. I don't have the family issues you have, and am grateful for that. Take care, that must be very difficult. Thanks for being here, and for your kind words. As Rick said above, it is good to have community!
All the creative people I am close to are sad and angry and scoping out what they can provide in terms of resistance or comfort for the public. It's hard and will get much worse until the Scourge is stifled or removed.
It looks to me like while your left hand in the drawing is struggling to hold up the whole load, the right one is feeling tentatively for unseen obstacles ahead of every step. Constant vigilance saps what little energy is left. Hugs.
I’ve been telling people that my head exploded last week, so I’m not sure how to process what’s going on now. I’m just operating on fumes - or muscle memory. This is all very surreal.
At least we had the good news that The Onion picked up InfoWars at a fire sale price!
I’m curious about one thing: What is this “international rules-based order” that supposedly Trump aspires to destroy? Is it to be found in Ukraine? In the Middle East? In the western Pacific? Or in Amsterdam, perhaps? Surely not in the United Nations General Assembly! Or is it merely a figment of the progressive imagination? Because if it’s not backed by hard power, an international rules-based order is just that.
We definitely need our community of outraged people. I am leaning on the creatives that are going public with their outrage. Thank you so much for being one of them.
Those live/virtual gatherings are most important right now - forward - for ALL of us.
Rachel Cox Richardson was on live tonight and spoke of t
keeping community-engaged was what she most strongly emphasized.
It was painful also to learn she’s essentially now tapping into her book chapters a chapter at a time with us regularly.
As terrific as her writing and organizational skills are, she’s been directly told no corp publishers will publish it. I am so glad for her fiscal fallback # of paying Substack subscribers.
That is so cool that you met Steven. I too have followed him for a while and his commentator Mark Jacobs whom I would read in the Chicago Tribune regularly.
Thanks for the drawing. We will all have sadness but we just need to drop the anger and replace it with hope. Thanks so much for the Fred Roger clip, I have shared it and it helps me be a helper.
Misogyny - Coincidentally, I've listened to 4 audio books focusing on this topic: The Swans of Harlem by Karen Valby, Men Have Called Her Crazy by Anna Marie Tendler, The Longest Race by Kara Gaucher and One Way Back by Christine Blasey Ford. Burning me up - Being more watchful - Biting is a good source of DNA.
Life and right will right itself. And may we move forward with clear eyes and minds to advance our care and love for family, community and self and weather this storm and bring our nation into a safe port and bright future,
Been away from home and the news of the orange man's hornet's nest of appointments. I do so thank God for you to sift it all out, and am in awe and wonder at your insight and strong stomach. xox
Yeah, I hear ya, and feel the same...BUT I cannot keep myself in a state that will do me harm (move me into clinical depression or keep my body full of adrenaline/high blood pressure/too little sleep, etc.). So, I am continually working on "being" in a better state (I flee to Eckhart Tolle on Youtube), and that leaves me much more functional and I can even enjoy momentary joy. It's a struggle and we all have to find our way to some level of dealing well with "what is." If only 4 years, it will be a lonnnngggggg time.
I pulled down my Pema Chodron books from the shelf. She helped me navigate a tough time many years ago. Her wisdom will be helpful again.
Ooo good reminder. Thank you
I’ve been thinking a lot with deep gratitude re my Buddhism years. Invaluable yet so simple. Community is a piece of that.
Everything about the election and what has happened since is horrible and all are feeling it. But for all women it is even worse because both the 2016 and the 2024 elections have told us loud and clear that no matter how smart, experienced, well prepared and hard working a woman is, a totally incompetent male is preferred. What a gut punch.
Truly revolting which maybe a corollary to/of revolution.. no?! Or another English 101 descriptor..it’s not an adjective of revolution … but
Sixty years ago, in another turbulent era, a young man named Bob Dylan penned 'The Times They Are a-Changin'. They are as appropriate today as they were then.
Liza, you’re not alone. Nor are you carrying that entire load by yourself. You have friends, followers, and subscribers who are carrying some part of that load, too.
Please, for all of us, do what you do best. See clearly, write insightfully, and make us laugh a little. (I loved the clown car cartoon because it did all that and more.)
Don’t carry more weight than your being wants to lift… be truly KIND to
Y O U R S E L F FIRST…. For as long as it takes you to recover your CENTER. Your SPIRIT. Your Belief in your Gift .. the messages you bring us with delight and hopefulness in the goodness at the core of humanity.
Thank you, Carol. Truly.
Thank you, RIck. It's good to know you all are around and that there are good people to help the situation. I didn't doubt it--just have to remember it.
I'm trying to figure out how to be, too. Mine is in my personal life. I want to "lead with love" but I'm also so angry at everyone who voted for this horrific situation (as well as the ones who didn't vote at all--they're culpable, too). How do I go forward with these people? Do I even want to? It feels like talking to people, reaching out, building bridges (the preferred method of most liberals I know as well as Kamala & Tim) didn't do anything at all. Both of my sisters repeated Trump & Fox news lies. I tried to counter it with the truth (delivered respectfully and peacefully--I was entirely open to talk with them point by point). One wouldn't hear it (shut down the conversation and then went silent), the other said she'll "do her research." (She didn't.) I can't help but think they're unreachable, so what do *I* do with that? (By the way, thank you for your reporting, Liza, and specifically for telling us how you feel about what's happening. It's like having a really talented friend to commiserate with. Your posts are one of the few I can bear right now.)
You are so right. My desire is to "lead with love" as you say, but it is challenging. I don't have the family issues you have, and am grateful for that. Take care, that must be very difficult. Thanks for being here, and for your kind words. As Rick said above, it is good to have community!
All the creative people I am close to are sad and angry and scoping out what they can provide in terms of resistance or comfort for the public. It's hard and will get much worse until the Scourge is stifled or removed.
It looks to me like while your left hand in the drawing is struggling to hold up the whole load, the right one is feeling tentatively for unseen obstacles ahead of every step. Constant vigilance saps what little energy is left. Hugs.
I’ve been telling people that my head exploded last week, so I’m not sure how to process what’s going on now. I’m just operating on fumes - or muscle memory. This is all very surreal.
At least we had the good news that The Onion picked up InfoWars at a fire sale price!
I’m curious about one thing: What is this “international rules-based order” that supposedly Trump aspires to destroy? Is it to be found in Ukraine? In the Middle East? In the western Pacific? Or in Amsterdam, perhaps? Surely not in the United Nations General Assembly! Or is it merely a figment of the progressive imagination? Because if it’s not backed by hard power, an international rules-based order is just that.
We definitely need our community of outraged people. I am leaning on the creatives that are going public with their outrage. Thank you so much for being one of them.
Thank you, Marilyn.
Those live/virtual gatherings are most important right now - forward - for ALL of us.
Rachel Cox Richardson was on live tonight and spoke of t
keeping community-engaged was what she most strongly emphasized.
It was painful also to learn she’s essentially now tapping into her book chapters a chapter at a time with us regularly.
As terrific as her writing and organizational skills are, she’s been directly told no corp publishers will publish it. I am so glad for her fiscal fallback # of paying Substack subscribers.
That is so cool that you met Steven. I too have followed him for a while and his commentator Mark Jacobs whom I would read in the Chicago Tribune regularly.
Thanks for the drawing. We will all have sadness but we just need to drop the anger and replace it with hope. Thanks so much for the Fred Roger clip, I have shared it and it helps me be a helper.
Misogyny - Coincidentally, I've listened to 4 audio books focusing on this topic: The Swans of Harlem by Karen Valby, Men Have Called Her Crazy by Anna Marie Tendler, The Longest Race by Kara Gaucher and One Way Back by Christine Blasey Ford. Burning me up - Being more watchful - Biting is a good source of DNA.
Life and right will right itself. And may we move forward with clear eyes and minds to advance our care and love for family, community and self and weather this storm and bring our nation into a safe port and bright future,
Been away from home and the news of the orange man's hornet's nest of appointments. I do so thank God for you to sift it all out, and am in awe and wonder at your insight and strong stomach. xox
xoxoxoxo