Thank you for all you do, Jessica. Yeah, you have to put the oxygen mask on yourself before you can take care of others. Thank you for pacing yourself! We all appreciate you!
Bravo, Jessica. In the horse world there is a saying that horses stay in the moment while humans are busy thinking about the past or the future as they interact with their four-legged friends. This causes a disconnect between the two species, making successful training difficult. So, I applaud your admonition for us to stay in the day.
I appreciate your comments about how to stay sane in all this. Some days are harder than others and the right-wing lunatics are so many it's discouraging. But what would be more discouraging would be to have them remain in office.
Great advice! I just subscribed to Simon Rosenberg’s Hopium Chronicles and donated to Run for Something. Thanks for all of your guidance and positive ideas! I see you on many Zoom events and I appreciate and value your dedication, perspective, and action items!
Thank you so much for this, Jessica. It's getting harder than ever for me to "stay in the day" because I'm worried all the time about next year (and social media/polls/news/punditry has a lot to do with that worry) but I know I need to do what you suggest: take care of myself and take things one day at a time. Any amount of self-care helps tremendously.
Thank you, Jessica. I have saved as can do no more this night. Staying in the moment, I have read that the Russian dissident I so admire, Alexei Navalny, has been missing from an inhumane prison in Russia with the elections that will no doubt put Putin into continuing power for even longer. He is beloved by the Russian people and his crime is opposition to Putin, likely the most popular voice against Putin in that country. I appreciate what you do here and understand we must salvage American Democracy before we can affect positive change on the world stage. I will join you again at a later time.
Thank you, Jessica. I fear for his life but he does/did not as the case may be. He was adamant in returning to Russia to fight for his country even if that included martyrdom. He is a hero for the ages, caring more for the people of Russia than himself. His message will go forward even in the voices of others if he is now lost to the people in harm’s way in Russia. I pray that wherever he is, he is at peace with his decision. 💔🕊️
I, too, am an optimist and think the good guys will win over time.
But...as I am increasingly confident that my focus on voter registration and GOTV-ing is vital work, I am less convinced that, in my horribly gerrymandered and under-voting state of Texas, calling my reps is worthwhile. In fact, I fear it takes valuable time away from activities that WILL make a difference (see above). I’d love others’ thoughts. I fear that “the other side” delights in riling us up but actually then reducing time we have to make more impact.
Yeah, I get that. I think if I were in Texas I'd likely call my House rep but not the Senators. They're just...lost. But then again, think how much worse they'd be if no one ever called. So I'm torn. One thing I do know: those three GOP State Supreme Court justices who just ruled against that poor woman who needed the abortion are all up for re-election next year. THEY MUST GO.
Cathy, I also like to think of myself as an optimist .😎I’m in Florida and my US House Rep is Freedom Caucus😒, my U.S. Senators are GOP as is my Fl Rep and Senator plus county commissioners.I do call, write and Resistbot if I’m passionate about an issue. It doesn’t take much of my time and it always makes me feel better. It also doesn’t take as much emotional energy as canvassing and phonebanking.
Recently our county commissioners voted to defund the Supervisor of Elections budget for the exact amount needed for mailing sample ballots to all and return postage for mail-in ballots. They were inundated with calls( and emails) and ended up overturning their vote! We do make a difference !
Thank you for all you do, Jessica. Yeah, you have to put the oxygen mask on yourself before you can take care of others. Thank you for pacing yourself! We all appreciate you!
Thank YOU, Jennifer. So glad you're on our team.
Bravo, Jessica. In the horse world there is a saying that horses stay in the moment while humans are busy thinking about the past or the future as they interact with their four-legged friends. This causes a disconnect between the two species, making successful training difficult. So, I applaud your admonition for us to stay in the day.
Former rider here! Horses are my spirit animal!
I appreciate your comments about how to stay sane in all this. Some days are harder than others and the right-wing lunatics are so many it's discouraging. But what would be more discouraging would be to have them remain in office.
Exactly.
Great advice! I just subscribed to Simon Rosenberg’s Hopium Chronicles and donated to Run for Something. Thanks for all of your guidance and positive ideas! I see you on many Zoom events and I appreciate and value your dedication, perspective, and action items!
Oh yay thank you Deborah! I truly appreciate that and am so glad you're here!
Thank you so much for this, Jessica. It's getting harder than ever for me to "stay in the day" because I'm worried all the time about next year (and social media/polls/news/punditry has a lot to do with that worry) but I know I need to do what you suggest: take care of myself and take things one day at a time. Any amount of self-care helps tremendously.
It does. And we can always handle what's right in front of us. It's the imagined future that is unmanageable.
Please feel free to share this, which I came up with based on your words:
Stay in the day.
Do not stress about what may or may not happen in the future.
Know the danger but don't keep constantly reminding yourself of it.
Know that the political situation will drastically change between now and next year, quite possibly for the better.
Know that there are many more people working harder than ever to save democracy (and succeeding) than there are working to destroy it.
Love that! Thank you!
You're very welcome and thank you, Jessica! We all need to keep that in mind between now and next November!
And, taking your advice, I just signed up for promote the vote PA, thanks again!
Baby steps...
Fantastic! Thank you, Deborah! They're doing extraordinary work. You'll love the discussion.
Your words in today’s letter are powerful. Kindly shook me, actually. I needed that prod thank you so much, Jessica.
I'm so glad you found them useful. (:
Thank you, Jessica. I have saved as can do no more this night. Staying in the moment, I have read that the Russian dissident I so admire, Alexei Navalny, has been missing from an inhumane prison in Russia with the elections that will no doubt put Putin into continuing power for even longer. He is beloved by the Russian people and his crime is opposition to Putin, likely the most popular voice against Putin in that country. I appreciate what you do here and understand we must salvage American Democracy before we can affect positive change on the world stage. I will join you again at a later time.
Yeah his disappearance is deeply troubling. I pray he's safe, but fear he's not. Hang in there and I promise I will, too.
Thank you, Jessica. I fear for his life but he does/did not as the case may be. He was adamant in returning to Russia to fight for his country even if that included martyrdom. He is a hero for the ages, caring more for the people of Russia than himself. His message will go forward even in the voices of others if he is now lost to the people in harm’s way in Russia. I pray that wherever he is, he is at peace with his decision. 💔🕊️
Just gave to RFS and am already a monthly donor. I love them.
THANK YOU, Jason! So grateful! I really feel strongly about this particular fundraiser.
Jessica, you are the bestest of the best.
I, too, am an optimist and think the good guys will win over time.
But...as I am increasingly confident that my focus on voter registration and GOTV-ing is vital work, I am less convinced that, in my horribly gerrymandered and under-voting state of Texas, calling my reps is worthwhile. In fact, I fear it takes valuable time away from activities that WILL make a difference (see above). I’d love others’ thoughts. I fear that “the other side” delights in riling us up but actually then reducing time we have to make more impact.
Yeah, I get that. I think if I were in Texas I'd likely call my House rep but not the Senators. They're just...lost. But then again, think how much worse they'd be if no one ever called. So I'm torn. One thing I do know: those three GOP State Supreme Court justices who just ruled against that poor woman who needed the abortion are all up for re-election next year. THEY MUST GO.
Cathy, I also like to think of myself as an optimist .😎I’m in Florida and my US House Rep is Freedom Caucus😒, my U.S. Senators are GOP as is my Fl Rep and Senator plus county commissioners.I do call, write and Resistbot if I’m passionate about an issue. It doesn’t take much of my time and it always makes me feel better. It also doesn’t take as much emotional energy as canvassing and phonebanking.
Recently our county commissioners voted to defund the Supervisor of Elections budget for the exact amount needed for mailing sample ballots to all and return postage for mail-in ballots. They were inundated with calls( and emails) and ended up overturning their vote! We do make a difference !
You are restoring my faith! Thanks!
Thanks to all who are in this journey!
There are sweet days ahead when we can look back and say, The fight was hard, the evil was rising, but we held fast to the truth. And we prevailed!