Survival Is Resistance

 

Echoing my colleague Jane, I am scared. And I know we are not alone. Women all over the United States who value their reproductive choice are scared.

That sort of fear creates an enormous amount of stress, which is always lurking in the background — if not holding court in the center of your consciousness every moment of the day, no matter how hard you try to dislodge it.

Stress from fear of a looming future can make it difficult to be productive, to focus on your job, to do the things you need to look after yourself to survive, to plan or strategize, to just keep putting one foot in front of the other. 

Meanwhile, everyone who is engaged is firing off ideas about what we can do to help, to be an ally, to protest, to resist what is coming — and the desire to do good can be further overwhelming. And to feel overwhelmed, to freeze, in such a critical moment can elicit feelings of guilt.

It's easy to get caught in a terrible cycle at a time such as this one.

And here's the thing to remember: Our adversaries want us stressed, overwhelmed, and paralyzed. 

Which is why it's important to take a breath, if you need one. Pause, if you need to. There is time to figure out what you need, and what you can do.

In the meantime, just survive. Survival is resistance enough, until you're ready for more.

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