A friend reached out this morning to see how I’m feeling in light of everything going on in our country and world right now. My family and friends often get worried about me when there’s heaviness and tragedy in the world. They know I care a lot and that it’s likely going to be hitting me hard. This just happens to be January 25, 2026, the day after a peaceful protester was killed by federal immigration agents. At a moment where countless injustices, lawless acts, and cracks in our most cherished systems have built up to a crescendo with no diminuendo in sight. While there have been many, many other heartbreaking moments during my lifetime and certainly in the last decade that have overwhelmed me with fear, frustration, and fatigue, this one feels a little different to me, and I am oddly comforted.
What in this world could bring me comfort at a time like this, you ask? There’s a different scent in the air right now. And it doesn’t smell (as much) like rage and anxiety sweat. It doesn’t sound (as much) like vitriol and hatred. It doesn’t look like performative posts with no actions to back it up. It smells like genuine solidarity, baby! Like deep breaths. Like we’ve been doing our self-care, tending to our own communities, and reflecting on our core values. Like we’ve hit our societal limit of numbing out, telling ourselves that nothing we do matters, and doing nothing but doomscrolling. Like enough of us have figured out how to shift out of survival mode and into strategy mode.
I’m seeing people taking action even when it’s not convenient. I’m seeing people admit to caring about each other and our shared values. I’m seeing people change their spending habits accordingly. I’m seeing people having each other’s backs, even when it means putting themselves in harm’s way on behalf of a stranger. That’s what happened this weekend in Minneapolis. We can’t miss that.
Remember when Mr. Rogers said, “Look for the helpers?” Well, I see them clear as day.
Solidarity. Community. Agency. And yes, Love. These are the essential ingredients, and they’re growing in volume and potency every day.
It’s a deep relief to me because it feels like we’re collectively choosing not to take things for granted anymore, and we’re not willing to be passively complicit in everything that’s been tearing us apart. I believe that’s the shift we’ve been needing.
I’ve also been watching a lot of movies. It’s my favorite form of self-care and my only real indulgence on my currently tight budget (I'm sure I'm not alone). I keep leaving the theater on discount Tuesdays at Laurelhurst coming away feeling even more strongly about what’s really important in this world. The people we love. Our convictions. Using our strengths, power, and privilege to help others.
The movies we’ve been watching our whole lives have given us playbooks for times such as these. (Who knew all of those supposedly science fiction and fantasy movies – Star Wars, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, The Hunger Games – were preparing us to fight not-so-fictitious fascism in our lifetimes??) You know what they’ve been saying?
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Every single one of us has a role to play. No one is too small. Neville is just as important as Harry who’s just as important as Hermione who’s just as important as Dumbledore.
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We all have to face our shadows – they cannot be ignored – and choose the light. Remember when Luke Skywalker and Rey have to go to those dark swampy places where their true desires/fears were revealed to them? Ignoring those things, swallowing your feelings, numbing out – those are all paths to letting your darkness win. They will eventually bubble up, take over, and may even turn you to the dark side if you let them.
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There is nothing more powerful than love. When we have love, family, friendship, community, we have something worth fighting for that’s stronger than anything else in this world. The people sowing chaos, destruction, and hatred in this world are usually not suffering from an abundance of love, quite the opposite. Lean into who and what you love in this world, and it will fuel us and spread something worth sustaining.
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We are stronger together. Frodo didn’t and couldn’t do it alone. He needed Sam. He needed the entire Fellowship that was comprised of those with a diverse set of strengths and qualities.
What feels cliché is often what’s universal.
My dad shared this quote from Mahatma Gandhi the other day,
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.”
I hope you can find comfort in the fact that you’re not alone. That something truly good is brewing and building.
If you’re feeling exhausted or like you can’t handle another thing, take a break. Take a week off of the news, take some extra time for self-care, nourish yourself with what makes you feel grounded and healthy and whole. Part of what’s helping me feel more stable right now is that I’ve been off my personal social media feed for two months. I listen to the news on the radio, read it during my lunch break, or watch with my breakfast during short stints of the day. And I skip it when I’m truly overwhelmed. The problems are still here, others have been doing their work in the meantime, and now I have the energy and wherewithal to contribute.
When we show up for each other after those deep breaths and good nights of sleep, after you gather up some steam and let yourself get inspired and excited, that’s when we’re able to build something truly good and sustainable together.
Need some inspiration for actions you can take?
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Check out this post on how to help in Minnesota.
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Contact your Senators and tell them exactly how you feel about what’s going on. If you want scripts, I highly recommend following this Substack: Chop Wood, Carry Water. Calling is effective. Emailing using their online contact forms is effective. Writing post cards is effective. Whatever you enjoy or don’t dread doing, do that. You don’t need a bunch of statistics or to be an expert. You can say, “This is making me feel xyz, and I would really like something to be done about xyz.” There are no rules. Express yourself, and if there are enough of us doing it, it will be impossible to ignore (or get re-elected).
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If you’re upset about ICE specifically, here’s a great list of what actually helps.
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Show up for protests if you’re able.
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Use your voice. You have influence whether you like it or not. Show people you care. It matters.
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Align your dollars with your values. Support small and local businesses. and boycott businesses that contribute to our problems. Be a part of your community’s resilience and sustainability.
- Read a book. Watch a movie. Go to a museum. Look for inspiration from the artists. Or if you're a creator, create. Be our source of inspiration.
- Choose your lane based on your interests, personality, strengths, privilege, resources, etc and work with what you've got.
Solidarity, y’all. Take care of yourselves and your communities. We’re with you.
-Alex Grand
