What Do We Do Now?
/I'm not pretending that I have all the answers, because I don't. But I have some answers that are resonating for me.
One thing I know is that we've all got to compare notes on how to move forward.
Yesterday morning, I had just finished a yoga class and was feeling great. After a three week break from attending classes, it felt great to practice the past few days in a row.
I was chatting with my friend, Liz, I asked, "Wanna take an after pic?"
"Sure!"
That's when I grabbed my phone and saw the text: SCOTUS just overturned Roe.
In shock, I did a quick google search to make sure I didn’t dream the text. Like many of us, I started reeling. The magic that the yoga did on my nervous system started fading away as my mind raced to figure out what this means.
After a few minutes of sorting through the initial emotions, Liz said, "Let's take that after pic to commemorate this historic day."
When we went to pose, she suggested we make a uterus symbol. Here we are. That redness in my face isn't just from the yoga.
Afterwards, I went to Cafe Hey to fuel up before my massage sessions. I also went because I knew I’d find community there.
When I got there, I didn't even have to ask if she'd heard the news. The barista, Taylor, shared her own fear and shock and disappointment, as did I.
When Eve, handed me my sandwich, we did our own check-in. I hadn't seen her in a while but I love the art she's been posting recently on Instagram and told her how it inspires me. She shared the same about my writing. In that moment, we became two women supporting each other.
This is what we need, a small but wise voice inside me said.
In the past 24 hours, I've had so many thoughts about what’s next. I started writing lyrics to a new song. In my morning pages this morning came a new poem. I'll share those later.
I know there are individuals and groups out there sharing what we can do in our community and political spheres. People are organizing protests, petitions are being signed, some people are considering running for office or forming strategies to get more people out to vote in November. I love and support all of this. If you have resources for these kinds of actions, please post them in the comments.
But where my mind goes is in less obvious political actions of resistance.
Here's my list of the forms of micro-activism that, though seemingly small, I believe make a great impact:
Checking in on the people you know with uteruses, past or present. We want to know you care and know we're hurting and are scared.. I sent several wellness check text to some friends yesterday and plan to make this a regular practice. This not only acknowledges what we're going through but builds on our existing relationships to make them stronger. We need this for the long haul.
Talking to the people in your life that don't have uteruses about what's going on. If you don't have a uterus, make sure you pause so you can listen. Hear what the people this directly affects are going through and what they think, not just tell them what to do or how it's going to be fixed. You may think you're helping but that actually can contribute to the problem.
Take every opportunity to support the female-bodied or female-identified womyn in your lives, including those who've transitioned or are in the process. Patriarchal oppression runs deep and none of us are immune to it. I'm a proud feminist but if I really pay attention, I've still got work to do. There are still unconscious beliefs around competition that control how I relate to other women. You can fight this in many different ways: Compliment them (not just their appearance). Listen to them. Share their work, art, creative pursuits, thoughts and ideas. Give them money.
Move your freaking body. After yesterday, I'm convinced that anything we choose to do with our bodies is a form of activism. Go to yoga. Go for a walk or run. Dance and sing. Make all the love. Not only does this go against the trend that someone else can decide what we do with our bodies but it also helps our nervous systems. Drink water. You can't fight back if you're not hydrated. You can't think straight when you're in fight or flight. It may sound counter intuitive but as The Nap Ministry has been telling use for years, taking care of ourselves is some of the best resistance we can do.
Let me know your thoughts. Comment with your resources. Let's keep this conversation going.
