Be Your Own Light
From We’re heading into dark times. This is how to be your own light in the Age of Trump
Write down what you value; what standards you hold for yourself and for others. Write about your dreams for the future and your hopes for your children. Write about the struggle of your ancestors and how the hardship they overcame shaped the person you are today.
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But most of all, never lose sight of who you are and what you value. If you find yourself doing something that feels questionable or wrong a few months or years from now, find that essay you wrote on who you are and read it. Ask if that version of yourself would have done the same thing.
And if the answer is no? Don’t do it.
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Hi.
I value courage: the kind of courage that stands up for people who need defending, the kind of courage that doesn't let mockery stop it, the kind of courage that it takes to be your authentic self in a world that wants you to be anything but.
I value honesty, but especially the sort of honesty that goes hand-in-hand with kindness.
I value anger. Not the kind of petty anger born out of pride and hatred, but the anger that says NO. YOU MAY NOT DO THIS TO ME. YOU MAY NOT DO THIS TO MY FRIEND. I choose anger over submission.
I value kindness, and creativity, and intelligence, especially when all of those things go together like music.
All I've ever really wanted from tomorrow is to get it a little bit better than today. Dreams? A warm, comfortable home with just enough space and abundance for us and our cat-friends. A garden. Enough healing to do all the things I want to do and make and learn. Freedom from fear of want. Health and friends and books and little adventures.
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Write a list of things you would never do. Because it is possible that in the next year, you will do them.
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I would never sit still and silent if someone shouted bigoted abuse at someone in my presence.
I would never profess a faith I don't hold or denounce a friend just to protect myself.
I will never fucking stand and silently watch while Americans are carted away to detention camps for the color of their skin, the shape of their eyes or their faith.
I would never...I don't know what I would never do. I hope I have the courage to STAND UP and MAKE WAVES in the days and months to come, but I don't know. All I have is a pretty good idea that there's enough anger and courage and don't-give-a-damn in me to do that.
Write down what you value; what standards you hold for yourself and for others. Write about your dreams for the future and your hopes for your children. Write about the struggle of your ancestors and how the hardship they overcame shaped the person you are today.
...
But most of all, never lose sight of who you are and what you value. If you find yourself doing something that feels questionable or wrong a few months or years from now, find that essay you wrote on who you are and read it. Ask if that version of yourself would have done the same thing.
And if the answer is no? Don’t do it.
---------------------------
Hi.
I value courage: the kind of courage that stands up for people who need defending, the kind of courage that doesn't let mockery stop it, the kind of courage that it takes to be your authentic self in a world that wants you to be anything but.
I value honesty, but especially the sort of honesty that goes hand-in-hand with kindness.
I value anger. Not the kind of petty anger born out of pride and hatred, but the anger that says NO. YOU MAY NOT DO THIS TO ME. YOU MAY NOT DO THIS TO MY FRIEND. I choose anger over submission.
I value kindness, and creativity, and intelligence, especially when all of those things go together like music.
All I've ever really wanted from tomorrow is to get it a little bit better than today. Dreams? A warm, comfortable home with just enough space and abundance for us and our cat-friends. A garden. Enough healing to do all the things I want to do and make and learn. Freedom from fear of want. Health and friends and books and little adventures.
---------------------------
Write a list of things you would never do. Because it is possible that in the next year, you will do them.
---------------------------
I would never sit still and silent if someone shouted bigoted abuse at someone in my presence.
I would never profess a faith I don't hold or denounce a friend just to protect myself.
I will never fucking stand and silently watch while Americans are carted away to detention camps for the color of their skin, the shape of their eyes or their faith.
I would never...I don't know what I would never do. I hope I have the courage to STAND UP and MAKE WAVES in the days and months to come, but I don't know. All I have is a pretty good idea that there's enough anger and courage and don't-give-a-damn in me to do that.