45 Ways To Survive #45
As the 45th President of the United States begins his term, I’m thinking: “How can I get through this?” And by “this,” I don’t mean Inauguration Day — I mean the next four years. I know I must be proactive and thoughtful about how and with whom I’ll spend my energy and my time. Maintaining my well-being, stamina, and sense of humor are paramount; my effectiveness as an advocate for children and communities of color depends on it.
I started this list of “45 Ways To Survive #45” on sticky notes that dreary Wednesday after Election Day, and in texts and posts with friends in the days since. It’s evolved into something I hope will be helpful to you and those you care about most. My Dad always tells me, “Remember to take care of yourself.” I hope one of the items on this list will help you do that, too.
- Listen to “Songs In The Key of Life” daily. Because, Stevie Wonder.
- Have more face-to-face conversations with family, longtime friends, and people you met through social media.
- Listen to credible news and information sources on public radio. I already know what #45 looks like. I need to stay informed about his decisions and actions. That doesn’t mean I need to see his face.
- Start a journal where you can write a positive thought about yourself or someone close to you. It will be something to go back to when you’re having a bad day.
- Go fishing. Get your toes in the water.
- Decide which causes/organization in your neighborhood, town, or state are most important to you, and donate your time or money to help them thrive.
- See “Hidden Figures” at the movie theater – popcorn optional.
- Visit your local library. You can join for free and it’s quiet there.
- Watch (or re-watch) BET’s “Love and Happiness: An Obama Celebration.”
- Drink one glass of water as soon as you get up in the morning.
- Stop sharing and giving airtime to every ignorant or rude comment made by #45 or someone in his Administration.
- Put the jeans you will never wear/wear again in a bag and give them to your favorite charity that accepts jeans that never fit/don’t fit anymore.
- Hold a baby.
- Subscribe to blogs and content that stimulate your brain and tickle your funny bone.
- Visit a place of worship or spiritual healing. Hiking paths are also great for this; malls, not so much.
- Take a nap.
- Run for office: student council, class president, co-op board, and homeowners association are great places to begin your journey. They worked for me.
- Ask more questions.
- Consume one of the classics: Souls of Black Folk, The Plague of Doves, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, A People’s History of the United States, Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee, The House of Spirits, The Giving Tree, Beloved, Go Tell It On The Mountain, The Joy Luck Club.
- Watch (and re-watch) “The Best of Eddie Murphy” from Saturday Night Live. Thank me later.
- Write a letter to your s/hero.
- Post more about what you believe instead of what you’re against.
- Volunteer doing something that makes you sweat.
- While your candidate for president didn’t win, what about the person you supported for school board, sheriff, mayor, state legislator, or U.S. Senator? Write an email to say you’re glad s/he is in office and share your top concerns.
- Help someone learn to read or improve their literacy skills.
- Follow that relative you unfollowed during the campaign.
- Take the flight attendant’s’ instruction “put on your oxygen mask first” to heart. (If you’re not breathing, what good are you to anyone else?)
- Learn all four verses to “America, The Beautiful.”
- Take an 18-year-old or a new citizen to get registered to vote, and attend a community meeting.
- Tune into C-SPAN to watch how a bill becomes a law.
- Go out for coffee, hot chocolate, iced tea or adult beverages in a different ZIP Code from where you live, and listen to the conversations.
- Watch “This Is Us.” It really is as good as everyone says.
- Learn at least one line dance.
- Add your favorite nonprofit to your monthly budget. Every little bit helps.
- Unfriend the person on Facebook — or in real life — whose words, attitude or behavior is hurtful to you.
- Turn the television off. My Mom called it “the idiot box” in the 70s. Little did she know.
- Remove apps you never use that are taking up space on your device. Clutter comes in all forms.
- Stand up for someone who needs a friend.
- Take a bubble bath. Rubber ducky optional.
- Keep the medical appointment.
- Designate one of your friends as your very own “Anger Translator.” Why should Key and Peele have all the fun?
- Listen to Nikki Giovanni or Langston Hughes reading any one of their lovely poems.
- When words fail, use emojis.
- Use YOUR voice and talents to change the world.
