These last few days have been difficult for me – sad, frustrating, and scary as hell. What may be most upsetting is how definitively the American people have asserted what they want. The only way I can make sense of it is by knowing how systematically our sources of information have been undermined and eroded over the last several decades, and how deliberately we have been made to fear one another.
Regardless, it leaves us with the question of what to do now. This week, I’ve mostly just been letting myself grieve. Honestly, there’s part of me that just wants to run and find some other country where the future doesn’t seem quite so uncertain and potentially bleak. And yet, everywhere in the world is uncertain and bleak in its own way. And frankly, this is my home. I won’t give up on it so easily.
I wish I had something profound, helpful, or inspiring to say. But for now, the only way to relate to all this that makes any kind of sense to me is to step up even further into myself; this work I’ve set out on supporting aspiring change leaders; and building community, connection, and support networks with folks like you.
I don’t know what that looks like yet. But if you’re interested in convening a discussion to figure out what that might look like, let me know. We don’t have to be alone through this.
Some questions we might explore:
- What can I do to help you grieve or make sense of this new world?
- What would a supportive online community look like for you?
- What kind of support do you need to step up your change efforts?
Peter Schulte
I help aspiring changemakers do good in the world and feel good in the process.