Many of us are progressing through the stages of grief (Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression) after the election of Donald Trump. Have no doubt about it, this is grief of a profound order. If you are still mourning, take the time you need and reach out for support. Read more here.
If you have moved through these stages and are now asking: What do we do now? What is the first step? Read on.
Love for yourself— Do what will make you feel better: Scream, Sing, Cry, Dance, Hit balls at the batting cages. Reach out to allies and friends and let them support you.
Love for those around you, who support you. Thank those who are lending you a shoulder to cry on, liquor to drown your sorrows in, or inspiration to get out of bed in the morning. We cannot do this alone – it truly takes a village.
Love for those who do not support you. We are all connected, whether we agree or not. We will need them, and at some point, they will need us. Keep that in mind when you are considering whether or not to unfriend FB friends. If you feel strong enough, listen to them and hear what is in their heart. If they are harassing you, or putting you down, then go back to the first point: Love for yourself.
2. Then, get informed.
Rely only on curated sources of information. Stop relying on Facebook recommendations for news – they will only tell you what you want to hear. Turn off the 24-hour news channels – they don’t have time to curate their news. Question links even from trusted friends– there is rampant misinformation (on all sides!). Subscribe to reputable journals, either online or for the good-old-fashioned-paper one — Washington Post, New York Times, Los Angeles Times. Newspapers need our support, and we need their objective information more than ever. Listen to National Public Radio or your local affiliate. They will not always tell you what you want to hear, but it will help you be a more informed citizen of this country. We cannot afford to stay in our bubbles.
3. Get connected to the issues you care about.
What are you passionate about? Most of the people I know are not “one issue” people. They care about issues of civil rights, and reproductive rights, and education and climate change. I know it’s hard to choose– my dad calls me “jack of all trades, master of none”– Start with one or two, and you’ll expand your capacity to take on more things over time.
Find reputable organizations that care about those issues too, and stay connected to them. Get on their mailing lists and stay connected to their work. Here’s a starting list here:
Issue | Advocacy Organizations |
Reproductive rights | Planned Parenthood |
Reproductive rights | NARAL |
Civil Rights | ACLU |
Women | National Organization for Women |
Latino | National Council of LaRaza |
Black | Black Lives Matter |
Black | National Association for the Advancement of Colored People |
Jewish | Anti-Defamation League |
LGBTQ | Mazzoni Center |
LGBTQ | Lambda Legal |
Muslim | Council on American-Islamic Relations |
Gun Control | Moms Demand Action |
Environment | Earth Justice |
Environment | Sierra Club |
Promoting progressive candidates for office | She Should Run |
Immigration | Border Angels |
Policing Reform | Campaign Zero |
4. Identify your skill set.
Everyone has something to offer. Here are just a few things that you can do:
This journey will be difficult, and we will encounter obstacles. After all, we are rebuilding ourselves and our nation. When it does, go back to the first point– Start with Love. Take care of yourself so you have the stamina to keep working.