As I watched the presidential election coverage on the night of November 8, I shook my head, disheartened and frightened. I felt numbed by the weight of the outcome. Over the past few weeks, that weight has only gotten heavier with a clearer image of what this presidency entails. As I streamed the inauguration ceremony this morning, I shook my head again, disheartened and frightened.
I have been thinking a lot about what I stand for, and remaining virtuous during challenging times. With a new presidency that stands boisterously in opposition to my values, I need to push myself to do more–to reaffirm my commitment to social justice, to take action when I can, and be an active change agent.
I also am reflective on the role of social media in political discourse and engagement. While I tend to infrequently share posts or engage in heated comment threads, I am inspired by a recent episode of the podcast Death, Sex & Money to use social media as a public and visible platform to hold myself more accountable to my words.
With that said, this is my personal call-to-action; my new-year-new-presidency resolutions. I strive to:
- Do my due diligence on staying informed about current events and issues.
- Read up on the historical context of current events and issues.
- Challenge myself on confirmation bias.
- Challenge myself on complacency.
- Support local organizations and causes that uphold shared values of social justice (i.e. volunteering, donations, events).
- Practice empathy, remain humble, and listen.
- Be heard; be seen.
- Practice self-care when the weight of things get heavy.
- Stop searching for excuses to pass opportunities or call to actions.
- Channel anger, frustration, and despair into productive actions (i.e. calling representatives).
- Better navigate the discomfort of disagreement instead of avoiding it.
- Dare to be wrong, and learn.
There is great work to be done, and I cannot just rely on others to do it for me.
I’m stepping up.