What a Long, Strange Month It's Been
Keep on keepin' on.
This month has been a very long year.
I don’t know what to say that hasn’t already been said. By now you’ve undoubtedly read all the op-eds and takeaways from last week’s brutal election, and to be honest, I don’t really care to add to all the talk. It’s been a lot and I’m still processing.
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Since I didn’t have an interview to publish today, I thought I’d share a few of the things that have carried me through the past couple of weeks—things that I’ll continue to rely on as we embark on what will undoubtedly be a wild four years.
Earlier this week I rage cleaned my kitchen while blasting my favorite songs of rebellion and resistance. I put the songs in a playlist, which I’m happy to share with you—and please, if you have anything that might be good to add to it, let me know. I’m going to be listening to it a lot in the years to come.
I’ve also been focusing my energy on following the social media accounts of people who have been fighting the good fight all along. People like Shamsia Hassani, who has used her paintings and murals to advocate for Afghan women. Or Leah Song and Chloe Smith, who have spent their days rebuilding their Appalachian town in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Or Mary Morello, badass mother of musician Tom Morello, who at age 101 still managed to vote and who believes “it’s good to act up and protest as much as you can before, during, and after the election.” Or Lydia Emily, who has continued to make art while living with a debilitating form of MS.
Articles and newsletters—those that provide a less dour take on things—have also been enormously beneficial to my mental health. A few that are amazing right here on Substack: Jessica Yellin’s News Not Noise. (I also recommend finding her on Instagram.) Dan Rather’s Steady. And Andy Borowitz’s The Borowitz Report. (The latter is mostly satire, but he does occasionally publish pieces like this one, which I really enjoyed.)
In short, I’ve been seeking out work by people who know that this election is not the sign of End Times. It’s bleak, yes, but this country has been through some serious shit before. It’s going to be a long, arduous four years, but we’ll get through it.
So, that’s my take on things. Listen to great music, seek out great art, read great writing. Pour your energy into a cause you believe in. Volunteer to write postcards to voters (something I did a lot of before the election). And as Mary Morello says, “act up.”
Interviews will return next week. Until then, happy rage cleaning.
Love your message and that playlist! Thanks for sharing.