nolite timere, imo resistite!

CWs: US politics, mental health, death mention

nolite timere, imo resistite! (“do not be afraid, nay rather, resist!”)

I cribbed the first part from what is said to have been the delightful poet Seamus Heaney’s final words, sent in a text to his wife (noli timere, “do not be afraid”). Thank you for that, o vates.

It’s been a rough week and it’s barely halfway through. The US election had a predictably terrible result, and Trump won, somehow, again. And apparently, according to reports, won the popular vote. My mom texted me saying she was “dumbfounded” by this decision. Intellectually I get it, but at the same time, it’s not a surprise. America is working as designed. The cruelty is the point. Ad nauseam.

So where do we go from here? I don’t know. And I’m not one to lead. I’m trying to listen to people of color, especially Black people, and the LGBTQ+ community, and non-white people. White people will be fine. It’s everyone else I’m worried about, and can’t let them down. I will do my best to fight and resist and help people howsoever I can. I’m happy to give money whenever possible to help people survive. It’s absolutely worth it.

Sit with this for a little while. Let your grief and rage breathe. Take care of yourself. But once you’ve done that, don’t give up, and keep fighting for a better tomorrow. We can do this.