I don’t even know what’s specifically happening today. I do know that if I go on Threads or turn on the news, I’m going to get a migraine, and I don’t get migraines.

How do we cope with the world around us?

In addition to all this *gestures wildly*, on Tuesday we lost power. It remained off for over twenty hours. No internet, no electricity, no heat.

Our work plans were cancelled. Our dinner plans were cancelled. My daughter’s day off plans in front of Netflix from her cozy bed were cancelled. Fridge barricaded from the kids. Sweaters on.

Our country is at war, our economy is tanking. Gas prices are ridiculous. We have ICE agents in our airports “helping” the TSA, and by helping I mean tackling and detaining folks waiting for their flights. We have airplanes crashing because air traffic controllers are overworked and understaffed. Our government is doing everything in its power (and beyond that) to destroy what we’ve grown and built over the last two hundred fifty years.

We may never recover from this.

The President of the United States posted this week about a combat, Purple Heart receiving veteran, lifelong public servant, and former director of the FBI when it had some prestige that he was glad he was dead. Not condolences for the family. Not we had our disagreements, but I wish his family well. No. Glad he’s dead, good riddance.

His Cabinet lies under oath every time they come in contact with a Congressional hearing.

I’m appalled. I’m repulsed. I’m disgusted.

And I know I’m not the only one.

There is little I can do individually except make my anger, distrust, and contempt for this corrupt administration known. Feckless Republican cowards have let him get away with this treason for too long. They all need to go.

I know how all of this is affecting my mental health. I can only imagine how it affects yours.

Here are some of my thoughts and suggestions for getting through another day:

1. Breathe.
2. Turn off the news. Just let it go for twenty-four hours.
3. Be gentle with yourself. If you simply want to sit and stare at the four walls for ten minutes,  sit and stare at the walls for ten minutes.
4. If you have a porch or balcony, sit on it and watch the neighborhood around you just be. Take that time.
5. Do something comforting. It could be reading a chapter in that book, eating a bowl of macaroni and cheese, buy some flowers from the supermarket, sing a song from your childhood.
6. Do one thing every day that is unrelated to the world that gives you comfort. Just one thing. Keep a journal or diary, and you’ll create a go-to for yourself when you need a reminder of distractions that work.