What to do now

You know what?

It’s hard out there right now. (gestures vaguely at the world) People are losing their funding, people are losing their jobs. There’s a lot of uncertainty.

There’s a lot of fear.

I’ve been on quite a few meetings in the last 3 months, and there are people trying to keep up with the changes, people frozen, people being vulnerable and honest about how worried they are. There’s so much to take in, every day.

It’s easy for me to say, hey we can wait this out. We have to keep looking at the positive. This won’t last forever. And even if that is true….

That risks denying the suffering that people are going through RIGHT NOW.

• Some people are having their contracts canceled because a lot of folks are staying in their houses and living in fear that ICE will show up at their door.
• Some other folks are dealing with the extreme volatility of the stock market, and unable to take in the vast swings and tariff and misguided decisions this administration is making. Crashing the economy is a real possibility.
• Some of us are just waking up wondering if we will have a job tomorrow, or dealing with having lost our jobs.

 

No matter where you are in this moment, let me invite you to pause.

 

 

We can still take a deep breath.

Then take another.

Then take another.

 

What other choices can you make in this moment?

Can you open the window and breathe?

Can you write a few words about how you are feeling in this moment?

Can you stretch?

Can you take a walk?

Do you have a favorite tree?

One of the things that has been giving me comfort in the last year and a half since I lost my brother is going to be with the trees.

He’s the one I would call right now when I wanted to talk this out.

But since he’s gone, I have to go talk with the trees instead.

 

 

Sometimes it feels like the trees are holding me, when I am alone, and feel like I can’t hold the grief anymore.

I try to notice something new each time I go to the trees.

Is it a flower that wasn’t there before? Is it a bird winging over the creek?

Maybe it’s the sounds of the water, a raindrop sliding down my neck.

Whatever it is, I try to remember to say thank you each time.

I don’t know if you have trees around you. Out here in the pacific northwest we have lots of them. And that’s one of the reasons I live here.

 

 

It’s an uncertain time, so I try to remember what choices I have.

I’m not going to try to plan ahead for everything. There’s too much unknown.

What I am working on doing is being prepared, moment by moment, for what comes.

 

How I stay informed and get prepared

Because media in the US is largely bought out by major corporations that freely admit they will follow what billionaire owners want, I use a couple newsletters to help stay informed. I am a patron on Patreon, and like to read

• Threat Model, as well as
• The Sentinel Intelligence.
• I go to people like The Angry Sociologist, Nate B. Panic and Dr Lucky Tran on X/Twitter.
• I also enjoy a few podcasts that remind me of the larger systems in play, like Back from the Borderline, and
• Black Myths podcast, as well as
• Upstream.
• For moments of respite, I love following Ms Wondersmith,
• as well as Alex Elle, and some amusing posts on Defector

Just made a new magnolia caramel bundt cake by Ms Wondersmith and it is one of the best cakes I’ve ever eaten in my life. Sharing it with friends and loved ones was a great joy I had recently.

 

 

Why am I telling you this?

Because I want you to stay informed too.

If you’re worried, if you’re angry, you’re not alone.

If you’re trying to be present, well, me too.

I am trying to spend less time on news, and more time making art these days. Doing my best!

Feel free to comment with how you are doing right now.

 

Some hope & a free workshop

As you probably know by now, I’m an encourager. I like to encourage people, and I do think that even if contracts are going away, there are still other ones out there. And it’s hopeful to think that we can team up and get larger contracts. I got two contracts last year through teaming. And if you want to learn more on how,

I’m doing a free online workshop on April 17th at 1pm PT on teaming or partnering to get larger government contracts. If that’s something that interests you, you can sign up here.