A Manifesto of Sorts

I hate New Year's Resolutions because I think any changes you want to make in your life should happen as soon as you think of them. So here's a sort-of list.

1. Survive.
2. Help as many other people survive as I can.

Also, because I've seen this a lot: It's okay if you can't do things! I spent like all of December in a fugue state reading and writing fic because I could deal with any of it. That's okay! I called my various reps about the ACA last week.

Almost every day, I remind myself that it's okay to set your own boundaries about activism. Forgiving yourself for stopping makes it easier to go back to doing the thing. We figure out what we can do. We do what we can. Just because some of us can do more doesn't mean that what little we can do is meaningless.

Also, shout outs to all of you guys. Thanks for being here with me. Love you all. <3

Marching (For Great Justice?)

Okay there was a tweet about trying to preserve our thoughts and feelings and impressions of this day, so here is my attempt.

Went to the local Women's March today in Boston. It was kinda cold at first, but then it got warm. Tons and tons of people (estimates had it at 135k-150k). Many, possibly even most, of them in homemade knit hats.

Spent a lot of time being jealous of all the really great signs. Considered getting a Non-Compliant or Rebel Alliance tattoo briefly.

Ate a lot of granola bars. Hung out with fangirls and speculated about our new favorite fannish trope (imagine your OTP meeting by climbing the same tree at a protest!)

Stood around a lot. Hopped up and down a bunch. Listened to a boatload of speakers. Didn't actually march because it was taking too long to leave Boston Common and get on the parade route.

Enjoyed social media afterwards. So many great photos of all the different Marches all across the country and the world.

We have a privilege here in our state that our hippie progressive ideals are part of the establishment. We had both our Senators and our Attorney General and the Boston mayor speak at the event promising to do all they can to continue being hippie progressives. The police was on good terms with the demonstrators. No reports of violence.

I am not sure if I was comforted by the display of solidarity so much as I felt a sweeping reminder of the gritty difficult work of enacting change. If anything, this election has helped galvanize me into more concrete action. I have always been politically aware, and I was slowly drifting towards becoming politically active. But now I have various reps' offices on my phone. Now I have monthly donations set up to support causes I care about. Now I'm feeling the pressure to roll up my sleeves and get to work.

So that's what I'm going to do.