How did you spend your yesterday?

January 7, 2021

Yesterday, I went to my Pilates class. I brought some of my favorite foods at the sweet little local grocery I love to support. I helped my daughter and her husband rearrange furniture. (They got a new sofa.) I talked to my son. I forgot to make my bed. I talked to my sweet sister who is still suffering the lingering effects of Covid.

I got over 50 texts from friends in the space of one hour.

I watched the news with stunned disbelief. I tossed a paper towel at the TV when our President spoke. It was this that got to me: “You have to go home now. We have to have peace. We love you. You’re very special.” So let me get this right, Mr. President. You love the people that stormed the White House yesterday and interrupted the peaceful transfer of government that has been a part of our heritage for centuries.

Thank goodness I didn’t have a sturdier object in my hands.

If you know me you know I try hard to see all sides of a situation. I search for non-biased new sources. I search for facts. I can’t see both sides right now even though I’m trying and it feels like this shift will be permanent.

I woke up asking myself. What now? What will I do today?

And here is where I netted out.

I will keep believing in America and Americans. There are bad people all over the world. And there are people who do things because they are misinformed or seeking attention or mentally ill… or something. But the majority of Americans are good. I will keep believing this.

I will pay even more attention. During the last four years, unlike a lot of my friends, I have read news from the right and from the left and mostly in the middle. The factual news. I will help share that information when I can in the hopes that my friends on both sides will take the time to read.

I will find and support the lawmakers who are trying hard to UNITE us. Open to suggestions here.

 I will vote in every election. All of them. They all count.

I have said this often, because I have seen it work first hand in my own life. When bad shit happens, we have two choices — to retreat and lick our wounds or rise up and grow.

I choose growth. Here’s to hoping many of us choose to RISE UP. I suppose the real question is never what did you do yesterday but what will you do now…