Friday Things // 01.08.2021

The one wondering WTF happened this week.

Hi, my dears.

Well, 2021 sure has come in like a lion, yeah?

Usually when I sit down to write these posts, it’s whatever is a.) top of mind for me or weighing heavy on my heart, and b.) I feel like you guys may need to hear… I mean, what I’d want said to me, I suppose. You know? And I was thinking about what to write today, and it feels like there’s a big ol’ elephant in the room. 

(Lot of animal references today, IDK.… going with it.)

To put it bluntly, Wednesday was a lot. The attack on the Capitol was, for most of us, scary and unsettling and traumatic, and probably deeply disturbing and sad. I know I for one felt heartbroken watching the scenes on the news, for a medley of reasons. 

I’m not going to get into the politics of it all (if you care about my political opinions, you can message me directly, or follow me on Twitter 😂). I think it needs to be said, though, that it’s okay to be upset, or to feel whatever you’re feeling right now. It’s okay to admit that this feels like more than you can reasonably process right now. We’ve had one thing after another, and Wednesday was an experience most of never, ever imagined could or would actually happen. Perhaps not totally surprising, depending on your perspective, but still… shocking.

I spent the beginning of my career in political communications, and interned at both the Senate and the House of Representatives. I used to give tours of the Capitol, right in many of the areas that were, well, violated this week. American history is one of my favorite topics (it was one of my majors in college, even), and my work in politics was largely from that perspective — I was there because I thought it was amazing to consider the development of our nation, the grand experiment that was the U.S. republic, and remarkable people who thought it all up. I share this not because anyone needs to learn my professional bio, but because that was part of my lens seeing Wednesday’s events — heartache thinking about how our history and traditions and these hallowed halls were being disrespected like they meant nothing. Like it was a joke.

I’m not saying there aren’t also many other concerning factors and layers to this situation, because absolutely there are (MANY), but it, in a weird way, reminded me of bullies in middle school. The ones who made fun of the things you loved because they didn’t understand them, or thought they weren’t “cool.” Who had no problem taking something you felt was special and important and sneering at it, acting like the things you valued were replaceable rather than something to protect and respect. 

((Big side note: I know there are a lot of dark sides to our history as a nation, and I’m 100% not trying to gloss over that. I’m referring to the foundation of our democracy, our political beginnings, and the innate quest for good and process and order and fairness that has kept our nation afloat since 1776.))

Aaaaand, taking off my history major hat…. 🤓

Maybe you went to bed Wednesday evening with the sinking feeling that 2021 was going to be another year of no good, very bad days akin to 2020. Maybe you felt your hopefulness and positivity and can-do spirit deflate into a puddle beneath your feet. What I would say to that is this: we can have tough days, and still have an overarching good year. We can fall down, many times, but still get up more often than not. Two things can be true at the same time. 2021 can start hard, and feel like more darkness, a continuation, and also, we can trust the sun will come out again. The year is not over! And can not, will not, be summed up within its first week. There is so much opportunity left, and time for us to land on a brighter path that feels, perhaps, safer, more certain, more optimistic. We can feel beaten down, and still believe with our whole hearts that things are going to get better. That we have the power to make things better — this year, and for future years. 

Two things can be true at the same time.

If the last year taught us anything, it’s that life can change in an instant. Certainly that’s how this past Wednesday felt, to me at least. Every moment counts, every memory matters, and all of our actions can make a profound difference. Maybe that’s what we move forward with, in light of what we experienced Wednesday, and whatever we may experience in the coming weeks. We can still put one foot in front of the other and know that there are certain things still within our control — namely our actions, and our reactions. You can make sure that no matter how dark things get before the sun comes back out, that the people in your life feel loved. That the strangers you come into contact with throughout your days see kindness. That no matter how overwhelming things feel for you, you focus on your ability to breathe in and out.

On that note, I hope you find some sunshine this weekend! If you want to talk through Wednesday, my DMs and email are always open for ya. 💛

I’m rooting for you,

Joelle

P.S. Starting next week, I’ll be sending out an extra day of content! YAY! It’ll be shorter, more light-hearted, easy to digest posts. I hope you like it, and either way, thank you so much for reading and being here. I think community is extra important right now, as many of us feel so isolated, and that was really part of my intent in starting this little passion project.