This week has been a swirl of politics and self help. Not like it was unexpected, but still, we’re living through it… The United States has pretty much lost its mind.
These are the things I’ve read that are giving me comfort… Elizabeth Bear asks, “Have you tried turning your government off and turning it back on again?”
https://www.patreon.com/posts/have-you-tried-120916194?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_fan&utm_content=web_share
The conclusion of the question seems to point to the fact that we are a bunch of ungrateful so and sos who will lose our government before we realize how much we need it.
I can relate, when I ran and became a city council member in my town, I was astonished at the things I’d taken for granted. Just the skill and care it takes to keep the garbage picked up and the firehouse running and the the sewers from backing up into your basement. And that’s a town of 20,000 – minuscule in the scheme of things. I’m grateful for that tiny slice that I call home. Hopefully others will get grateful soon…
If you feel like you need to convince someone of something in this climate, this is your go-to advice.
And as writers, we should always search for the specific to make our points and to draw emotion from our readers. I keep thinking about Caroline Edwards and how she’s living with a brain injury due to the siege of the Capital on Jan. 6. She must be so angry. Any justice she’d had was taken from her. And the son and ex-wife of the Stewart Rhodes, one-time leader of the Oath Keepers, and how they must be so concerned that their father/ex-husband has been released. Terrifying!
The full pardon of the insurrectionists was just the beginning of the things that are changing in our world. Today was filled with stories about ICE, and the cutting off of funding for all kinds of programs. Which is why this advice is so timely. From my friend, Brenda:
Jennifer Walter about what is happening in this country right now and what to do about it:
“As a sociologist, I need to tell you:
Your overwhelm is the goal.
1/ The flood of 200+ executive orders in Trump’s first days exemplifies Naomi Klein’s “shock doctrine” – using chaos and crisis to push through radical changes while people are too disoriented to effectively resist. This isn’t just politics as usual – it’s a strategic exploitation of cognitive limits.
2/ Media theorist McLuhan predicted this: When humans face information overload, they become passive and disengaged. The rapid-fire executive orders create a cognitive bottleneck, making it nearly impossible for citizens and media to thoroughly analyze any single policy.
3/ Agenda-setting theory explains the strategy: When multiple major policies compete for attention simultaneously, it fragments public discourse. Traditional media can’t keep up with the pace, leading to superficial coverage.
The result? Weakened democratic oversight and reduced public engagement.
What now?
1/ Set boundaries: Pick 2-3 key issues you deeply care about and focus your attention there. You can’t track everything – that’s by design. Impact comes from sustained focus, not scattered awareness.
2/ Use aggregators & experts: Find trusted analysts who do the heavy lifting of synthesis. Look for those explaining patterns, not just events.
3/ Remember: Feeling overwhelmed is the point. When you recognize this, you regain some power. Take breaks. Process. This is a marathon.
4/ Practice going slow: Wait 48hrs before reacting to new policies. The urgent clouds the important. Initial reporting often misses context
5/ Build community: Share the cognitive load. Different people track different issues. Network intelligence beats individual overload.
Remember: They want you scattered. Your focus is resistance.”
In other news:
I am using this story, There’s a Man in the Habit of Hitting Me on the Head with an Umbrella, as an inspiration for a copy cat workshop. I’m analyzing the way the paragraphs flow and the story takes shape. I keep thinking about it in a romantic way, as if it’s an enemies to lovers story. You don’t really like them, but eventually you get so used to them, you’d miss them if they were gone.
And HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR! I’m a wood snake and had to go out and get a Pixiu to appease the Tai Sui, the Grand Duke of Jupiter. Apparently the Grand Duke can my life hell, but a cute little Dragon-Lion hybrid can help. I went to Asia Town today and purchased one. It was a good excuse to get soup dumplings at one of my favorite places, LJ Shanghai in Cleveland. The festivals where you eat dumplings and get to see the dragons dancing are in about 2 weeks, toward the full moon. Tonight it’s brand new and filled with promise, no matter what is happening out there in the world and so out of your control. Your joy and happiness and art are also resistance.
Peace!