how not to cope
I’d hoped like hell that Harris would win. I thought she had a chance, however small, to beat someone so blatantly immoral, corrupt, evil. That I might actually see a woman president in my lifetime.
(If you voted for him, I refuse to argue with you. Please feel free to unsubscribe.)
The “wellness” writers tell you to “sit with your feelings,” as if that’s even an option when your DNA is 98% WASP. The only constructive thing I could think of, to counter my rage/fear/despair, was to clock in at A Wider Circle (nonprofit site) — a place that helps people who need help.
Here’s what the clothing donation space would look like when I arrived:
After working my ass off on a low-donation day, here’s what it looked like when I left:
The physical labor — the bending, lifting, sorting, hauling — was all-consuming and mercifully distracting from the news. But I’d come home exhausted. If I had the energy, I’d stretch and shove some food into my face before crawling directly into bed. And get up the next day and go do it again, despite my feet and back telling me not to.
The harder I worked, the more miserable I became.
A friend called me out, said I was letting my world get small. She was right.
This week I’m trying to right the ship. I could have gone to A Wider Circle today, but instead I gave myself permission to go thrifting (I scored the “tree” up top) and go to a group tennis class.
Anyway, how are you doing, mid-holidays and post-election? Let me know what’s going on in your corner of the world. Not gonna share anything. Just coming out of hibernation.
Links
“You have to put it down... You pick it up and hold it, do as much as you can. But then you put it down.” (The Cut)
Don’t call it a Substack. Anil Dash rarely misses. (Author’s site)
Get in, loser, we’re chasing a Waymo. In which reporters follow robot taxis around San Francisco. (Wired)
This year’s White House holiday decorations look like they were stolen from a Chuck E. Cheese warehouse. Honestly, WTF. (Washingtonian)
There were no mashed potatoes at my Thanksgiving, so I made these last night, and they were awesome. Warning: You could cut the recipe in half and still easily feed a family of four. (WaPo)
Scenes from my SF gym at rush hour. (Instagram)
Paddie’s brother from another mother. (Instagram)