Now that 2021 has arrived – as one meme put it, it’s looking a lot like 2020, only with bangs – many of us are wondering how to keep up. We see the divisiveness and know that our country and our community need us to stay engaged, but to be honest, it’s all a little overwhelming.
RELATED READING :: My Non-Resolution Plan for 2021
The world will not be destroyed by those doing evil but by those who watch them and do nothing. – Albert Einstein
We also know that lost momentum means that we won’t actually make the progress on the anti-racism work that we promised ourselves we would. We know that to combat white privilege and provide true healing, we have to find our way beyond the overwhelm and the exhaustion.
And we don’t give up that easily – we’re moms! So here are 5 ways to stay engaged and also keep up with the rest of life:
- Keep educating yourself. Podcasts are great when you can’t read another word or stare at a screen for a moment longer. Right now I’m loving How to Citizen with Baratunde, which offers inspirational and practicals ways that you can learn about and engage with your community. If you want an excellent book to give you a kick in the pants, try Raising our Hands by Jenna Arnold.
- Notice your energy. Anger is a big one these days. Also notice what holds your interest. Where are you giving care? What does that tell you about where you can make a difference?
- Get communal. Create your own safe space. Set your ground rules. In this case, it’s preferable to be clear about your baseline values. This does not have to be elaborate. Meet regularly. Have an easy way to share resources, ideas, articles, celebrations and🔥. Hold each other when you stumble – or when that conversation with your uncle didn’t go very well. Together, we can do hard things.
- Get out of your comfort zone. Speaking of doing hard things – do something new. Whether it’s small or big is less important than just doing the thing. During the election, I went “lit dropping” for the first time. It felt so good to be doing something about the things that were keeping me up at night. It’s also exactly what I want to model for my daughter and let her know about the space she takes up in the world.
- Also – rest. Smile at your babies. Remember why we stay engaged and for whom. 2020 taught us a lot and if feels like 2021 has a few things to say too. Let’s start putting those lessons to good use, making good trouble.
We got this!
Photo Credit :: Amy McLaughlin Photography
