Reclaiming HOPE from the Rubble
A friend in Missouri texts, “5000 homes in St Louis destroyed by tornadoes but FEMA defunding means no assistance.” Another friend with stage 4 cancer hopes for a clinical trial but worries about NIH grant defunding. A friend in West Virginia shares of farmers poised to lose everything because of canceled conservation grants.
I have thoughts, but believe it or not, I am not up for a political rant today.
I’m focusing on all the feel-good things because I refuse to give up my HOPE, along with my faith in basic humanity. I’m doing all the usuals for mental health: journal, meditate, walk, pray, and make crappy art.
What’s giving me a real uplift is interviewing folks for the Saving OurSelves: Commun ities versus Eco-Apocalypse YouTube series I launched May 1st. Connecting with people who continue to do the work, no matter what awful things may happen is encouraging. As Heather McLeod of Northwest (Ontario) Climate Gathering told me:
“We know what to do. Little of it is Federal. Almost all of it happens somewhere specific aka is local. And requires no remarkable skills or training. Grow Food. Clean up. Take care of one another. Teach. Learn. Help. Heal. Get to know your neighbours. Problem-solve with what you have. Stop getting distracted by the bullies and the liars.“
This is exactly what Buy Nothing groups, Denver Urban Gardens, North East Trees, the Society of Fearless Grandmothers, and so many more groups that I feature in the series continue to do. I give thanks for them in my every prayer. And I happen to be saying a lot of those lately.
What are YOU doing to navigate the upheavals of our time?
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