🏈 Is This Halftime? Or Is It Game Over for America?
Stay strong and take care of yourself. We are in the whirlwind now.
People say they’re tired — and I totally understand.
They’re tired of this fighting in American politics, all over America, in our families and neighborhoods and schools and workplaces and states. Everywhere.
Tired.
I get that.
What’s happening in America is exhausting.
And not just for us but probably also for the folks dying in other countries because the U.S. is not paying for medicine, food, aid, defense. I bet they’re pretty tired. Dying is such a drag on your day. Although I hear egg prices are better in the afterlife.
Tired Is a Legit Complaint
I sympathize because I’m really tired from 59 years of fighting for my rights as a woman. And as a queer person. (I know I’m supposed to say lesbian now because Big Donold and Elan are trying to eradicate the word queer in America but fuck them.) And I’m tired from fighting for my Latino children. And transgender loved ones.
And I bet you’re tired, too.
You have a job and kids or parents to care for. Maybe all 3 and a mortgage that isn’t going to pay itself. (Lazy mortgage. Can we deport all the mortgages, please?)
We’re all tired. But we’re going to keep going. Why?
Because We Love
Because we want something better for us and everyone we love, here in America and everywhere else.
And that means we need to figure out how we can keep going, even though we are all so fucking tired.
Because strength and endurance are what will decide the future of America. The future belongs to:
Who keeps going
Who lasts through this period and the next. And the next
Who continues to fight
Good intentions won’t be enough. Sprinting won’t be enough. Lifting heavy won’t be enough.
If this fight in front of us was categorized in one word — this battle for the soul and future of America — it wouldn’t be called a dash or a marathon or a triathlon or a powerlifting competition.
It’s something new.
Call it a trimaraliftathon.
Because there are no existing words that capture where we are now at this moment in time.
Onward!
So here’s to new words and new thinking. And lots of strength. And crazy endurance.
For this trimaraliftathon.
We’re going to need it all. And a lot of water.
Because this isn’t a game. And there is no halftime. Just randomly scattered time-outs that appear here and there — like we are in the SuperBowlStanleyCupWorldSeriesNBAChampionship and all the refs and umpires are drunk. The calls aren’t going to come our way so we better make the plays.
And that’s why I’m going to say this:
Keep training, folks. Taking care of yourself is going to be as important — if not more important — than ever.
This is no time to abandon your workout, sleep less, or pump yourself full of nachos. (Okay, well maybe I’m wrong about that last one. It’s pretty much always a good time for nachos.)
But seriously, dial yourself in.
And remember to rest. Sleep well. Relax sometimes. Take a break from the news and the shit parade that keeps marching on. Post those dog photos. Share your love of someone or something. Our souls need that, too — maybe more than ever.
Remember: Saving America is a long haul project — and it’s going to take all of us. I need you with me.
And we are not giving up.
“[Experiencing this administration] is physically trying … We need to take better care of ourselves.” — Rachel Maddow
Bonus Substacks for These Times:
Adam Kinzinger (He’s a Republican but worth a listen)
I sometimes read The Bulwark (Ditto)
Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor
Bonus read:
