Today can be a difficult day for several reasons, the least of which is the shitshow that’s the current US government administration. There are fireworks (triggers for those with PTSD, pets, etc.). There are ceremonies commemorating the dead military of past wars and conflicts. There are mattress and car sales, which often don’t correlate to the reason for today’s day off from work, as well as picnics, parades, and a sea of red, white, and blue.

I’ve had flags on my front lawn for several months and as we move closer to the 250th anniversary of our country’s founding, I wonder if I should keep them up considering the fascism and lawlessness going on at the White House and in Washington, DC.

I did decide to leave them up for this weekend. Memorial Day hits harder than the other patriotic days especially when we are still at war and our “commander-in-chief” is a stark, raving lunatic who collects assassination attempts like my kids collect Pokemon cards.

I will be doing five things to get through the day today, and hope to keep my mental health on an even keel:

• Wear my protest shirt.
• Begin reading Heather Cox Richardson’s Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America.
• Spend some time going over my notes from my recent research trip for my book.
• Spend time in prayer and prepare for my upcoming ten minute presentation.
• Breathe, drink water, stay off the internet, and draw even if the drawings are doodles and intersecting lines in different bright colors.

What do you suggest for today to protect your mental health?