Lush Left Media

 

I posted this on Instagram. Call it corny, maybe it is. As we watch in horror, Republicans ram down Kavanaugh down our throats, I was thinking about what I’ve been doing on a daily basis for a while now. I call “the dailies”

• Journaling
• Meditation
• Prayer
• Some kind of core-wound work — I’m partial to Al-Anon, there are many programs that are effective, if 12 step programs don’t speak to you.
• Reading from great teachers like, Marianne Williamson
• Yoga or pilates
• Setting and enacting boundaries
• Gratitude lists

All of this sounds like a lot, it isn’t. When one gets into a routine, it becomes a habit. Like anything else. I cannot express what a difference doing all of what I outlined on a daily basis has made in my life.

So, in this age of Trump, this horrific stunt the GOP is pulling RIGHT NOW regarding Kavanaugh, the absolute greed of the Republicans aiding and abbeting Trump — one could go on forever. I heard in today’s SCOTUS hearing, Senator Dick Durbin say, “When I go home to Illinois, for the first time in my 30 years in congress, I have people pull me off to the side and ask, ‘Senator, are we going to be O.K.?’”. That literally moved me to tears. I don’t have the answer — clearly. But what I know is this: We cannot be effective activists if we are not taking care of ourselves. It’s impossible.

And again, I’ll say what I always say: WE MUST FLIP CONGRESS. I’d argue, aside from the absolute travesty that Trump is even occupying the White House — the midterms of 2018 are one of the most critical elections ever in this country. This experiment, we call democracy. This experiment: America.

I was tagged in a tweet as was Ana Kasparian from The Young Turks. A great video compilation was done to clearly show how wrong Jimmy Dore is — and he is A LOT.

While, I admit, my feelings regarding the likes of Dore are harsher than some; the responses to my reply (SCOTUS, DeVos, Sessions, a right wing executive combined with a right wing congress — NO), were the same “demext” nonsense drivel I’ve seen for over two years. 

It’s tiring. It’s exhausting. And frankly, AT THIS POINT if one cannot see that we are staring at fascism, I’m at a loss.

I truly don’t know how many shows I can do on lushleft.com —- I’ve had the honor of interviewing VERY progressive Democratic candidates (yay, Rashida Tlaib or Liz Watson!) and what I know for sure, all of these policies that the left purports to want cannot happen unless we FLIP CONGRESS — and vote Democrat for POTUS in 2020. 

That’s just the way it is, kids. I don’t make up the rules. It’s called civics class. 

Again, I believe in an “inside/outside” strategy. Pressure left. AND acknowledge when elected Democrats do the right things. 

But the very notion that one is a “centrist” or a “neolib” because they’d much rather be fighting Clinton and her actual centrist tendancies than the horror-show that is Trump, is laughable. 

And I can’t help but notice, all the new stars loved by the left, like Ocasio-Cortez ARE RUNNING AS DEMOCRATS. 

Probably because people like her and Julia Salazar, and too many to name — GET IT. 

And with that, I’ll end with this: How come none of these “demexit” types never go after TRULY horrendous “Democrats” like Kyrsten Sinema? Ever look at her voting record? Hideous.

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.