Final night time, the boys and I fell asleep at 10 p.m. with out but realizing who received the election. Anton wished to sleep in my mattress. At 3 a.m., I wakened with a begin, checked my telephone, and wept. The outcomes weren’t good — particularly for girls, immigrants, LGBT+ of us, the record goes on and on.
I thought of what to put in writing in a publish as we speak. Decide-me-ups? Motion objects? A second of silence? It’s onerous to know what to say. What sort phrases have you ever been saying to your pals and youngsters? Your individual beautiful face within the mirror?
One factor that offers me hope is remembering who we’re. The photographs above present 16 Cup of Jo readers — joyful, caring, humorous, whip sensible — and there are 1,000,000 extra of us. 1,000,000 extra! Good males, considerate girls, sensible youngsters, and giggly youngsters are throughout us and aren’t going anyplace. And that goodness provides up. “There’s no single reply that can resolve all of our future issues,” wrote Octavia E. Butler. “There’s no magic bullet. As an alternative there are literally thousands of solutions — not less than. You might be one in all them for those who select to be.”
This election isn’t the tip of the story. Regardless that this nation voted for Trump — such a deep and crushing heartbreak — we’re nonetheless transferring ahead. Wrote Maya Angelou: “We might encounter many defeats, however we should not be defeated. It might even be essential to encounter the defeat, in order that we will know who we’re. In order that we will see, oh, that occurred, and I rose. I did get knocked down flat in entrance of the entire world, and I rose. I didn’t run away – I rose proper the place I’d been knocked down.”
For those who really feel overwhelmed as we speak, consider small issues you are able to do for now, neighbors you possibly can assist, family members you possibly can textual content. Keep in mind the starfish story? 1000’s of starfish had been washed up on a seaside after a storm. Just a little boy was throwing them again into the water, one after the other. An previous man noticed him and mentioned, “You’ll by no means be capable to save all of them; you received’t make an actual distinction.” The boy picked up a starfish and mentioned, “I made a distinction to this one.”
Right here’s a to-do record from illustrator Sophie Lucido Johnson:
Sending the largest hug to anybody who wants one, and a lot love, as all the time. xoxo And for those who’d like and are ready, please be a part of us in donating to organizations doing nice work. Cup of Jo is donating $5,000 to every of two organizations, one small, one giant: Ruth’s Refuge, which gives dwelling furnishings and different necessities to refugees, asylees and asylum seekers in New York Metropolis; and the ACLU, which defends the rights of all folks nationwide (together with reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, prisoners’ rights, our proper to vote, and way more). Grasp in there, buddies; we’re all right here. xo
(Octavia E. Butler quote through Corinne Fay.)
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