You were the officiant for my son's wedding (Nat and Brooke) and I instantly sensed a kindred spirit. I'm so grateful to Substack and to finding your page - what a sweet surprise! I recently watched a video by another Substacker, Jessica Yellin (News Not Noise) where she interviewed Shannon Watts. In it, they gave actionable steps on how to move forward - grief and disbelief and even hope (!). Between your post and theirs, I feel a tiny crack of light entering the very dark place I've been in the last week. I also resonated with the "invisibility as a super power" part. Hell yes.
Paula! I’m so glad to hear from you. Welcome to my substack. I’m so glad it brought a little comfort. And I truly love being invisible. I’ll check out that interview. Thank you.
Writer Susan Smit: "On a tangible level, there will first be even greater chaos. It will become a circus, but you don’t have to buy a ticket. Look deeper, look further, stay calm, and focus on what is taking shape: ancient, feminine values seeking to return to restore balance. You are being called to rise, deeply rooted & attuned, to shine more brightly than you have ever dared. Take the hands of your sisters and brothers, and place yourself in the circle. Accept the tasks you set for yourself. Take your place. "
I can so relate to all you wrote last week and this, and it has been so helpful. I, too, have a "PTSD super power of dissociation" and have used it often for triage. The unknown-to-come feels like it's asking for something different. For more than 50 years I have written haiku poetry, tiny prayers that I seldom share. Yesterday I wrote this: Jolted awake from / deep, sweet dreams, I remember - / First thing - feet on ground." Since the election, when my emotions spin out, I return to feeling my feet on the ground. From there, I believe I will find the next right step to take.
Oh my gosh that haiku is incredible! I love it. Thank you for sharing it. I can’t remember where I was when I first was taught to literally ground myself by putting my feet to dirt. If dirt isn’t available I’ll still push my feet into the floor. Really helps. May we all find the right next steps to take.
I hope I can articulate this well but words have been a struggle. Bear with me.
I, too, am grateful for my cloak of invisibility. It makes me feel like I can disrupt, fuck shit up, no one is watching me. But that reminds me of another time when I did a lot of disrupting and fucking shit up, my 20s. And we were under a invisibility cloak of a different kind: no internet. The difference is now, and this is probably partially due to the internet, I feel like I'm in some kind of silo. I must be, having been so shocked by the outcome of the election. In my 20s, my communities were more diverse. And this is not giving concessions to misogyny, racism, bigotry or homophobia---that was never okay. But at least I was more in touch with other people who had different priorities or values than mine.
This comment has no conclusion...just something I've been thinking a lot about when thinking about, Okay, now what.
My son once said, regarding my gray hair, that it wasn’t fair—I could shoplift anything I wanted at Whole Foods and no one would even notice. Haha. He had a point. I totally understand and relate to historically having had a more diverse friend group. In my memory, it was when W was running for president, and then “won,” that people started to back off from the sort of political debates with friends over dinner that had previously been okay. When I think about it, it almost seems like this quieting of topics was done with good intentions—things were getting too heated, formerly friendly arguments getting ugly—so let’s talk about more pleasant things. And from there, I see the divide starting. Not that that was the only factor, but it feels like a line in the sand. I want to qualify all this by saying that the older I get, the more my memory blurs—perhaps there never was a time in our lifetimes when people had friendly political debates and could be of differing minds and still hang out. Maybe that’s wishful revisionist history. But it sure does seem different these days. As I staggered around the streets of Austin last Wednesday on my work break, trying to process my pain, one of the hardest things to wrap my mind around was that a majority of voters felt precisely the opposite, triumphant and safe. Crazy times.
Even though I am safely an ocean away, I feel this moment in my bones and find myself trying to deconstruct and reconstruct it a dozen different ways. At the best, people were hungry for change, tired of the same rhetoric, and perhaps just poorly educated enough not to know or care that voting for their "best interests" might actually result in bulldozing everyone's actual best interests.
I look to my elders and see some hope, some recognition of times having changed radically before. We live in a constantly changing world, and remembering to do my part and stay clear eyed and focused not on what happened or on the worst thing that could still happen, but on the good things that might yet happen if we all do our parts to make it so. Thank you for always fighting the good fight and saying just the right thing. This is our world, too. Sending you a lot of love and solidarity.
I hope you’ve already seen this (I also posted on IG) but just in case not— it is Laurie Anderson reading Rebecca Solnit’s response to the election. Really helped me, especially knowing RS has been a tireless activist forever and ever. And somehow she is mustering the strength to carry on her work so I know I must muster the strength, too. ❤️
Thanks for this beautiful missive Spike. I am reading it from my rental room in Utrecht, as I was the debacle unfold from across the ocean. Your words bring comfort.
Great hearing from you Mary. I hope you are keeping well. Funny—when I was writing the first draft, “Tinkerbell” just popped in. I thought it was just going to be a placeholder. But then during revisions, I decided to keep it in. Fucking Tinkerbell indeed.
Thanks for this, as always. I've been following centrist media for a while now (check out the Free Press if you haven't already -- they regularly feature writers who disagree profoundly about various issues and bring clarifying perspectives) so I'm not terribly surprised by this election outcome. Nor do I think the Trump-voting half of the country consists entirely of evil idiots, which is the liberal narrative (and the conservative narrative is of course the same thing about the other half of the electorate).
I'm actually working on a couple of next-steps projects that I'm really excited about in the wake of the election, and I'm definitely going to run them by you when they're ready. The most immediate one is about trying to connect with Trump voters to learn more about why they feel the way they do, what they're excited about, what they're afraid of, what cracks might exist in their support, etc. Not everyone has the stomach for this kind of outreach, I realize, but I feel very strongly that Democrats need to grow the base by courting moderates rather than aggressively driving them away. If Trump appeals more to moderates than anyone else we've been able to run on our side lately (which, considering he gained ground in almost every demographic, appears to be the case), that is important and actionable information that we should be interested in learning more about so we can adjust our strategy accordingly.
Meredith I can always count on you to expand my mind. Thank you. I did have an extremely visceral recoil thinking about trying to connect with Trump voters. I’m not saying it’s a bad idea—it’s fascinating and probably a good idea. But—surely based in large part on my experience in Shitville—I could never do that kind of work. I’m so grateful you’re working on this. I’m excited to hear about your next-step projects. See you very soon!
You were the officiant for my son's wedding (Nat and Brooke) and I instantly sensed a kindred spirit. I'm so grateful to Substack and to finding your page - what a sweet surprise! I recently watched a video by another Substacker, Jessica Yellin (News Not Noise) where she interviewed Shannon Watts. In it, they gave actionable steps on how to move forward - grief and disbelief and even hope (!). Between your post and theirs, I feel a tiny crack of light entering the very dark place I've been in the last week. I also resonated with the "invisibility as a super power" part. Hell yes.
Paula! I’m so glad to hear from you. Welcome to my substack. I’m so glad it brought a little comfort. And I truly love being invisible. I’ll check out that interview. Thank you.
Writer Susan Smit: "On a tangible level, there will first be even greater chaos. It will become a circus, but you don’t have to buy a ticket. Look deeper, look further, stay calm, and focus on what is taking shape: ancient, feminine values seeking to return to restore balance. You are being called to rise, deeply rooted & attuned, to shine more brightly than you have ever dared. Take the hands of your sisters and brothers, and place yourself in the circle. Accept the tasks you set for yourself. Take your place. "
I don’t have to buy a ticket. Thank you. I needed that.
I can so relate to all you wrote last week and this, and it has been so helpful. I, too, have a "PTSD super power of dissociation" and have used it often for triage. The unknown-to-come feels like it's asking for something different. For more than 50 years I have written haiku poetry, tiny prayers that I seldom share. Yesterday I wrote this: Jolted awake from / deep, sweet dreams, I remember - / First thing - feet on ground." Since the election, when my emotions spin out, I return to feeling my feet on the ground. From there, I believe I will find the next right step to take.
Oh my gosh that haiku is incredible! I love it. Thank you for sharing it. I can’t remember where I was when I first was taught to literally ground myself by putting my feet to dirt. If dirt isn’t available I’ll still push my feet into the floor. Really helps. May we all find the right next steps to take.
I hope I can articulate this well but words have been a struggle. Bear with me.
I, too, am grateful for my cloak of invisibility. It makes me feel like I can disrupt, fuck shit up, no one is watching me. But that reminds me of another time when I did a lot of disrupting and fucking shit up, my 20s. And we were under a invisibility cloak of a different kind: no internet. The difference is now, and this is probably partially due to the internet, I feel like I'm in some kind of silo. I must be, having been so shocked by the outcome of the election. In my 20s, my communities were more diverse. And this is not giving concessions to misogyny, racism, bigotry or homophobia---that was never okay. But at least I was more in touch with other people who had different priorities or values than mine.
This comment has no conclusion...just something I've been thinking a lot about when thinking about, Okay, now what.
My son once said, regarding my gray hair, that it wasn’t fair—I could shoplift anything I wanted at Whole Foods and no one would even notice. Haha. He had a point. I totally understand and relate to historically having had a more diverse friend group. In my memory, it was when W was running for president, and then “won,” that people started to back off from the sort of political debates with friends over dinner that had previously been okay. When I think about it, it almost seems like this quieting of topics was done with good intentions—things were getting too heated, formerly friendly arguments getting ugly—so let’s talk about more pleasant things. And from there, I see the divide starting. Not that that was the only factor, but it feels like a line in the sand. I want to qualify all this by saying that the older I get, the more my memory blurs—perhaps there never was a time in our lifetimes when people had friendly political debates and could be of differing minds and still hang out. Maybe that’s wishful revisionist history. But it sure does seem different these days. As I staggered around the streets of Austin last Wednesday on my work break, trying to process my pain, one of the hardest things to wrap my mind around was that a majority of voters felt precisely the opposite, triumphant and safe. Crazy times.
And meant to add: Yeah, hate's not doing it for me either.
Very resonant! Touches eloquently on some of the stuff I have been rage writing to keep from spinning completely out.
I’m so glad you’re writing it down! Love you.
Really enjoyed this piece and found it helpful and soothing, especially the “invisibility as a different sort of super power” part.
Glad to bring a little comfort.
Even though I am safely an ocean away, I feel this moment in my bones and find myself trying to deconstruct and reconstruct it a dozen different ways. At the best, people were hungry for change, tired of the same rhetoric, and perhaps just poorly educated enough not to know or care that voting for their "best interests" might actually result in bulldozing everyone's actual best interests.
I look to my elders and see some hope, some recognition of times having changed radically before. We live in a constantly changing world, and remembering to do my part and stay clear eyed and focused not on what happened or on the worst thing that could still happen, but on the good things that might yet happen if we all do our parts to make it so. Thank you for always fighting the good fight and saying just the right thing. This is our world, too. Sending you a lot of love and solidarity.
I hope you’ve already seen this (I also posted on IG) but just in case not— it is Laurie Anderson reading Rebecca Solnit’s response to the election. Really helped me, especially knowing RS has been a tireless activist forever and ever. And somehow she is mustering the strength to carry on her work so I know I must muster the strength, too. ❤️
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCMhByYtfNE/?igsh=b3V1anp1aGdwbTdu
Thank you, Spike! I will check it out immediately. They are two of my heroines as well. ❤️
Thanks to YOU for writing this.
Thanks to ME for reading this.
THANKS!
Thank YOU!
Loved the whole thing, especially the opening (goats = good choice) and the thought that the easiest way to rebel is through kindness. Always!
Thank you!
Tinkerbell.
Somehow, that one got me.
Thanks for this beautiful missive Spike. I am reading it from my rental room in Utrecht, as I was the debacle unfold from across the ocean. Your words bring comfort.
Fucking Tinkerbell.
Great hearing from you Mary. I hope you are keeping well. Funny—when I was writing the first draft, “Tinkerbell” just popped in. I thought it was just going to be a placeholder. But then during revisions, I decided to keep it in. Fucking Tinkerbell indeed.
Thanks for this, as always. I've been following centrist media for a while now (check out the Free Press if you haven't already -- they regularly feature writers who disagree profoundly about various issues and bring clarifying perspectives) so I'm not terribly surprised by this election outcome. Nor do I think the Trump-voting half of the country consists entirely of evil idiots, which is the liberal narrative (and the conservative narrative is of course the same thing about the other half of the electorate).
I'm actually working on a couple of next-steps projects that I'm really excited about in the wake of the election, and I'm definitely going to run them by you when they're ready. The most immediate one is about trying to connect with Trump voters to learn more about why they feel the way they do, what they're excited about, what they're afraid of, what cracks might exist in their support, etc. Not everyone has the stomach for this kind of outreach, I realize, but I feel very strongly that Democrats need to grow the base by courting moderates rather than aggressively driving them away. If Trump appeals more to moderates than anyone else we've been able to run on our side lately (which, considering he gained ground in almost every demographic, appears to be the case), that is important and actionable information that we should be interested in learning more about so we can adjust our strategy accordingly.
Meredith I can always count on you to expand my mind. Thank you. I did have an extremely visceral recoil thinking about trying to connect with Trump voters. I’m not saying it’s a bad idea—it’s fascinating and probably a good idea. But—surely based in large part on my experience in Shitville—I could never do that kind of work. I’m so grateful you’re working on this. I’m excited to hear about your next-step projects. See you very soon!