I oscillate between “Ok, I can handle this if I take it one step at a time” and “I literally just want to cry and hide and I’m terrified and I’m frozen.”
First, I’m sorry you are feeling so overwhelmed. You aren't alone; many do. That's a pretty natural response to how much is being thrown at us. My colleague Saba Bando recently started a little advice corner for folks related to our emotional responses to the coup, as many feel just as you do. Here’s a link to her answering that very question— about being paralysed and overwhelmed:
It’s natural. I agree: just let yourself be in that feeling first. I suggest naming your fears as the way to start makimg them smaller and getting unstuck. You don’t have to do anything, as Saba also stresses. Just be where you are at, let yourself feel your feelings. Know you have options and can explore them if and when you want. That is one. There are things to consider. That is all.
I am a luddite and have not switched to using proton; I barely understand what VPN is. That’s okay. There is time. I’ll watch some tutorials for beginners, when I’m ready. And maybe I'll leave Google. But I will do the easy steps like freeze my credit. Small steps is the key to being unstuck, too.
I also took a staycation two weeks ago and put aside my phone for 48 hours. Edited a romcom I wrote that I hadn't found the headspace to focus on. We need balance for our mental health. We need light, air, laughter, company, joy and to feel hope. Getting out of our heads. Getting off doomscrolling, too. What can you do to bring some air into your head, some light into your thoughts? Hang out with a friend? Share your feelings. Maybe that’s your first step.
I think being where you are and being okay with that, is a first step. Just to be okay with whatever you are feeling and know it's just this moment, it will shift. Maybe try to talk about that with others. Saba is amazing, in truth. Very wise and calming. Email her- seriously. She is an excellent professional coach w great advice. It’s free and she will respond. See our larger campaign at www.resistingproject2025.org to read more about Saba’s Corner.
Do take a breath. And more. Do some of what makes you happy as an antidote to Trump’s shitshow. Ans remember, you are not alone and we are all here with you. Thanks for writing. -- AC
I've been meaning to write a thank you to you for this. I cried when I read it. Your reply was a good reminder for me about the importance of kindness and community. Thank you.
Yes, well aware. i like to think I give people a chance to practice their proofreading skills (just kidding). . We do have editors but I waa racing with this series as people so freaked out askimg for info and my editors and proof readers have day jobs with other deadlines this week. But I will try to do better. TY for caring. I care too. - ac
Wow! Thanks so much for Part 1 — the most easily comprehensible and informative guide to cyber-security that I have encountered (all previous offerings are ridiculously complicated, assume a high level of previous online knowledge, and just really indecipherable!). Looking forward to the subsequent 7parts as you presumably delve into home finances preparations!!
Glad it is clear and useful Randolph. If I can understand it, a child can, as I’m an OG luddite :). We all need to assess our risk, so cyber-education has become part of my 2025 agenda. Appreciate your feedback and resharing of content. - ac
I don’t get how anyone who welcomes these horrific moves could in any way be called ‘conservative’. They are sociopathic radicals and criminal nihilists.
We will investigate. Meantime, Wired doing great reporting. Reading them regularly. Also Gil Duran at The Nerd Reich and finance journo Nathan Mankus at Notes from a Crisis — looking onto IRS other imdep reg agency breaches - not only Treasury. More soon. Ac
With the stock market falling, it’s important for retired folks to have enough cash on hand to survive 2 years with negative returns and a possible interruption to social security and Medicare payments and benefits. Pension funds may also be affected.
Do what they do: sell short. As the Market falls they’re probably cleaning up. It should be illegal, but then so should many other things we’ve allowed to happen in America. All in the name of Business!
This is the best (only?) actual PRACTICAL TO DO list in preparedness for the next 4 years into infinity that I've seen. Thank you for a DIRECTION to go in. Looking forward to the rest of the series. 🙏❤️
So glad to hear it's resonating Robbyn. The entire series is up now. Also, we'll keep doing more. Do feel free to ask about any issues you'd like us to dig into. - Take best care, ac
My wife got a notice from people who are members of thew League of Women Voters. Apparently a few chapter have been shutdown by META because they are not in compliance with Community Standards.
Given the times I'm feeling more than a little rattled.
I guess I am wondering how many of these chapters have been shutdown and across what range of activities.
Bruce, that would only be their Facebook page, not the chapter itself. They may need to house their info elsewhere, I suppose… will look into it where I am…
Efficiency sabotages freedom. Efficiency pretends to be a value, but is not a value. It eliminates the question, “Why are we doing this?“ It moves us quickly to thinking about how we do something and distracts us from meaning and purpose. An emphasis on efficiency leads us to reject other values, such as, respect for human dignity, empathy, compassion, fairness, justice, and integrity. Efficiency directs us to serve the purposes of others and restricts our choices. Ultimately, efficiency dehumanizes as people become the means to the end: “If efficiency is the only measure then values evaporate and solidarity is impossible.“ - adapted from Professor Timothy Snyder in On Freedom.
Due to efficiency, jobs, healthcare, social services, financial aid, biomedical research, and foreign aid are eliminated without consideration of the benefits to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
I just don’t know where to start.
I oscillate between “Ok, I can handle this if I take it one step at a time” and “I literally just want to cry and hide and I’m terrified and I’m frozen.”
Right now I’m in the terrified and frozen state.
Hey MRD,
First, I’m sorry you are feeling so overwhelmed. You aren't alone; many do. That's a pretty natural response to how much is being thrown at us. My colleague Saba Bando recently started a little advice corner for folks related to our emotional responses to the coup, as many feel just as you do. Here’s a link to her answering that very question— about being paralysed and overwhelmed:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZRvuyEtnS6VqDzB5uZcoiF38U1pGqvvK/view
It’s natural. I agree: just let yourself be in that feeling first. I suggest naming your fears as the way to start makimg them smaller and getting unstuck. You don’t have to do anything, as Saba also stresses. Just be where you are at, let yourself feel your feelings. Know you have options and can explore them if and when you want. That is one. There are things to consider. That is all.
I am a luddite and have not switched to using proton; I barely understand what VPN is. That’s okay. There is time. I’ll watch some tutorials for beginners, when I’m ready. And maybe I'll leave Google. But I will do the easy steps like freeze my credit. Small steps is the key to being unstuck, too.
I also took a staycation two weeks ago and put aside my phone for 48 hours. Edited a romcom I wrote that I hadn't found the headspace to focus on. We need balance for our mental health. We need light, air, laughter, company, joy and to feel hope. Getting out of our heads. Getting off doomscrolling, too. What can you do to bring some air into your head, some light into your thoughts? Hang out with a friend? Share your feelings. Maybe that’s your first step.
I think being where you are and being okay with that, is a first step. Just to be okay with whatever you are feeling and know it's just this moment, it will shift. Maybe try to talk about that with others. Saba is amazing, in truth. Very wise and calming. Email her- seriously. She is an excellent professional coach w great advice. It’s free and she will respond. See our larger campaign at www.resistingproject2025.org to read more about Saba’s Corner.
Do take a breath. And more. Do some of what makes you happy as an antidote to Trump’s shitshow. Ans remember, you are not alone and we are all here with you. Thanks for writing. -- AC
I've been meaning to write a thank you to you for this. I cried when I read it. Your reply was a good reminder for me about the importance of kindness and community. Thank you.
It’s OK, MRD. Just breathe deeply. You can do it when you are ready.
Yes, well aware. i like to think I give people a chance to practice their proofreading skills (just kidding). . We do have editors but I waa racing with this series as people so freaked out askimg for info and my editors and proof readers have day jobs with other deadlines this week. But I will try to do better. TY for caring. I care too. - ac
Wow! Thanks so much for Part 1 — the most easily comprehensible and informative guide to cyber-security that I have encountered (all previous offerings are ridiculously complicated, assume a high level of previous online knowledge, and just really indecipherable!). Looking forward to the subsequent 7parts as you presumably delve into home finances preparations!!
Glad it is clear and useful Randolph. If I can understand it, a child can, as I’m an OG luddite :). We all need to assess our risk, so cyber-education has become part of my 2025 agenda. Appreciate your feedback and resharing of content. - ac
I don't even know what a LUDDITE is! 😜
I don’t get how anyone who welcomes these horrific moves could in any way be called ‘conservative’. They are sociopathic radicals and criminal nihilists.
A good resource is a blog and associated book called Firewalls Don’t Stop Dragons.
Thanks Sun
“Has it been copied and stored on Elon Musk’s private servers? How can we know?”
I’m sure the data has, did it get shared to Putin?
We will investigate. Meantime, Wired doing great reporting. Reading them regularly. Also Gil Duran at The Nerd Reich and finance journo Nathan Mankus at Notes from a Crisis — looking onto IRS other imdep reg agency breaches - not only Treasury. More soon. Ac
With the stock market falling, it’s important for retired folks to have enough cash on hand to survive 2 years with negative returns and a possible interruption to social security and Medicare payments and benefits. Pension funds may also be affected.
Most people don’t have 2 years cash.
Most don’t have 2 weeks of cash
And assume the value of dollar will crash.
Yep, but I’m terminal so… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Do what they do: sell short. As the Market falls they’re probably cleaning up. It should be illegal, but then so should many other things we’ve allowed to happen in America. All in the name of Business!
This is the best (only?) actual PRACTICAL TO DO list in preparedness for the next 4 years into infinity that I've seen. Thank you for a DIRECTION to go in. Looking forward to the rest of the series. 🙏❤️
So glad to hear it's resonating Robbyn. The entire series is up now. Also, we'll keep doing more. Do feel free to ask about any issues you'd like us to dig into. - Take best care, ac
Thanks!
.... I need to get this off my chest....
My wife got a notice from people who are members of thew League of Women Voters. Apparently a few chapter have been shutdown by META because they are not in compliance with Community Standards.
Given the times I'm feeling more than a little rattled.
I guess I am wondering how many of these chapters have been shutdown and across what range of activities.
Hmmmmmmmmmm
Bruce, that would only be their Facebook page, not the chapter itself. They may need to house their info elsewhere, I suppose… will look into it where I am…
Efficiency
Efficiency sabotages freedom. Efficiency pretends to be a value, but is not a value. It eliminates the question, “Why are we doing this?“ It moves us quickly to thinking about how we do something and distracts us from meaning and purpose. An emphasis on efficiency leads us to reject other values, such as, respect for human dignity, empathy, compassion, fairness, justice, and integrity. Efficiency directs us to serve the purposes of others and restricts our choices. Ultimately, efficiency dehumanizes as people become the means to the end: “If efficiency is the only measure then values evaporate and solidarity is impossible.“ - adapted from Professor Timothy Snyder in On Freedom.
Due to efficiency, jobs, healthcare, social services, financial aid, biomedical research, and foreign aid are eliminated without consideration of the benefits to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Excellently done AC. Thank you. An activist I trust with a huge following has partnered with Proton to give a 64% discount to his fellow activists.
https://protonvpn.com/l/special-partner-offer?url_id=0&utm_campaign=ww-all-2c-vpn-gro_aff-g_acq-partners_program&utm_source=aid-tune-10552&utm_medium=link&utm_term=vpn_home_plans_offer_hfp_landing&utm_content=25&phfp=true
I signed up for it and I'm having ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS! 😬
You have to turn it off sometimes- like to buy stuff
Yes. That's what I discovered! Certain retail websites won't open unless I turn it off. 🙏
Thanks. Really frightening.
📌
You don't