Month: August 2018

I went to a rally today put on my MoveOn and other organizations. It was small, but passionate! Everyone that was there feels horrified by Trump’s new pick for SCOTUS, Kavanaugh. 

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Here’s me at a rally today in Warwick, NY. People were there with signs like the one I am holding: Save Healthcare. People were also there because Kavanaugh, as the right wing extremist that he is, will be the the number needed on the Supreme Court to overturn Roe. Here’s The Boston Globe: 

“Make no mistake — Kavanaugh will vote to overturn Roe. He may not say so directly during the confirmation process, but his writings and his legal opinions speak clearly enough, if you can read between the lines of judicial code”. 

I have no idea what impact these protests will do. I always quote, historian and professor, Harvey J. Kaye: “We are radicals at heart”. Remember that. As Americans, the majority of us want progress. In a poll reported by NBC 67 % of this country want Roe in place. Further, Kavanaugh is a disaster for worker’s rights, essentially anything that represents progress in this country. He’s a far right wing reactionary. Make no mistake.

I’ve discussed that self-care matters. It does Because I’m doing what I call “the dailies”, journaling, meditation, yoga, etc., I was able to get to that rally today. Now, does my showing up to that rally make a difference? Obviously not, taken on its own. But if masses of us SHOW UP, then pressure will have an impact.

I will continue doing all I can. Organizations like MoveOn, Working Families Party, Naral, Planned Parenthood and more are a great way to get involved. We need you. The country needs you. 

And I’ll end this by saying what I always say: we must flip congress. Note: I was in a coffee shop today while in Warwick, NY. A woman noticed my sign and all she said was, “everyone needs to get off their ass and vote Democrat. The Republicans are harming this country and enough is enough”. 

I couldn’t agree more.

I love this tweet by someone I’ve considered a teacher for almost three decades, Marianne Williamson. In this age of Trump and as many are engaging in activism, I am finding it’s more crucial than ever to engage in SELF CARE.

This isn’t selfish, in fact, it’s one of the most impactful and powerful things one can do. I can only speak from the activities I do every day. I journal, meditate, even ten minutes of yoga or pilates. I journal around programs that I personally know work. For me, Al-Anon is highly effective. But I have to show up and “work the program”. I understand fully that 12-step programs aren’t for everyone. Find something that speaks to you.

Setting healthy boundaries is vital. We do not have to engage with someone who doesn’t respect who we are or speaks to us in an ongoing disrespectful manner. That’s both dishonoring to us, but to them if we allow this. I choose on a daily basis to not allow this. Now, in the past, I would argue and respond in an equally angry way. That was my defenses kicking in, stemming from core unresolved childhood wounds. I can now set boundaries (and do!) with love.

Showing up every day FOR OURSELVES as if we matter is not selfish. To be an activist in this age of Trump we must take care of ourselves first. Think of it this way, we cannot do a job adequately if we are running very low on supplies. Self-care is replenishing our supply.