What Next?

I wish I knew.   I have no words of wisdom.  No sage advice.

There are many things to be worried about.

The morning of November 6, I asked Donald "what are we gonna do?"

No shoulder shrugging from this guy.  No head shaking or hand wringing angst.

His response was pure Don Barley.  Quiet and confident.

 "We're going to take it one day at a time - for now.  Then we'll fight for what we need to."

If you're reading the news, your favorite columnists, and social media, there's lots and lots of advice out there. 

Some advice we might consider, some we might dismiss.  But we will continue seeking, until we find, what works for us, individually.

What we choose to do - how we respond to this election - what we, individually, will be capable of doing, will vary.

We must each choose a path right for us, while remembering our paths will differ.  We will not all choose the same path, and we need to accept that.

Me?

Pfft.  Hell.  I wish I knew.

I'm figuring it out, but in the meantime, while trying to wrap my head around all this, I will stumble around like a blind woman vacillating between rage and fear.  Between stunned silence and tears.  Beween quiet tears and ragged sobs.

And I'll try to live my life with my version of self-care.

 Surrounding myself with people and things I love.  

With beauty.  

Art.  Poetry.  Books.  Music.  Flowers.

It's something I have control of, at least for now.  So, for as long as I can, it's what I'll do. 

And.

 I'll cry.  I'll rage.  I'll worry.  

But I will take small steps to move forward.

And I will join others in doing what we can to keep this country a democracy.  It was never on my bingo card to live in a fascist country.  

The Room of Ancient Keys

Grandma once gave me a tip:

During difficult times,
you move forward in small steps.
Do what you have to do, but little by little.
Don’t think about the future,
not even what might happen tomorrow.
Wash the dishes.
Take off the dust.
Write a letter.
Make some soup.
Do you see?
You are moving forward step by step.
Take a step and stop.
Get some rest.
Compliment yourself.
Take another step.
Then another one.
You won’t notice, but your steps will grow
bigger and bigger.
And time will come
when you can think about the future
without crying.
Good morning.

              - - -  Elena Mikhalkova