Thank you Anand❤️I was just dipping into feeling guilt for not finding more ways to help and resist-the topic of a conversation last night after seeing a small-town play and having dinner together with new friends. Talk invariably turns to ‘this’. One concern we shared is that a year in, we’ve ended up in a bubble with our like-minded souls-our fear: we don’t know if enough Americans are paying attention still? To re-ignite my soul, I’m driving to a big democratic city of diversity governed by amazing women of color in Oakland, CA for No Kings 3. I hope to see thousands of my beloved citizens on the streets across the US Saturday. 💙
I cofounded Dance Against DOGE to protest Tesla & Elon in a busy area in Washington DC. What started as way to protest differently (joy, music, crazy outfits) has turned into a weekly gathering of new friends. Last week we hit 53 weeks and have no plans to stop. Our joy is contagious. Random people will jump in for a song, drivers honk and give thumbs up. Even the nation guards smile as they patrol the mean streets of Georgetown.
This joy has carried into my personal life. I’ve seen more live music in the past year than in the last decade.
Thank you for your BIG thinking and for clarity in this moment.
I heard you say this on the Daily beast Podcast. I work with horses — gathering veterans, military and first responders to remember their humanity.
I’m now offering this work to civilians — whose nervous systems are frazzled and who need to remember that the ‘thinking’ brain will never make us feel safer.
It is our hearts and bodies that recognize the real safety that only comes through a tribe, a herd, a flock or a pack. Just like all mammals who are non-predatory, horses can’t regulate their nervous systems on their own. We can’t either, so your antidote is spot on.
These horses are the means by which I build my capacity to return to the frey —grounded, centered and renewed.
Thank you for this message —and all of your brilliant work!
I’ve been spending a lot of time with my indoor bunny - another non-predatory animal. Your work with horses sounds beautifully restorative for all involved.
✅ Emission Capture: A 245-foot boom with a flexible pipe attaches to the ship’s exhaust, channeling emissions into a, STAX Engineering barge-mounted processing unit.
✅ Pollutant Removal: The system, which functions as a "smokestack vac," captures particulate matter and nitrogen oxides.
✅ Port Compliance: Designed for docked ships (container, tanker, auto carriers), this technology helps ports meet CARB (California Air Resources Board) regulations, which aim for significant reduction of at-berth emissions.
✅ Complementary Technology: It serves as a, Stax Engineering "complementary solution" to shore power, particularly for vessels that are not yet equipped to plug into land-based electricity.
I believe so many No Kings this weekend will bring together both- the "responding" with ".. joy and connection and community and love and food and music and human difference and living and letting live is everything they are not and is everything they are trying to take away." The rally/protest here will have speakers but also food, music, people from all walks of life.
I live in BK (looking forward to hearing you and Rebecca Solnit tomorrow at the library! )
I’m feeling a bit encouraged these days as seems like my neighbors are moving a bit away from the luxury of self-absorption to helping their neighbors with goods and services and caring (eg shoveling the last blizzard’s snow from elder and disabled neighbors’ walkways. Quite different from previous years).
Maybe I’m a dreamer, but seems like folks are moving a bit away from “I me, mine” to “hey, need a hand with that?” Very different vibe now.
Right in the here-and-now, my group is all of the Patriots that show up at our weekly Stand Outs in the center of my small town. I love every single one of them because we see each other, we hear each other and we connect on a level where we know decency and we know when we are being lied to and we see the schemes that are being perpetrated to our people by the fascists that want to crush us. Well, we cannot be denied our right to this country our forbearer's have fought to give us. I stand and keep hope alive because without hope we are lost. Maybe the thing we need to do is accept there are and probably will always be people that are prone to being lost in this cult or any cult. I want to know who they are in my little orbit because when we can see them up close we can then see what needs to be done to keep our collective consciousness from being polluted. We are peaceful, we care about our neighbors, we are helpers and we share all of the truths that we see that will create the world we want to live in, OUR America of brave and true patriots. Right now we have to stop feeling lost. Take action. Read all that can shine a light to others. This freedom we have is on the precipice of good vs. evil. We see that, but we can't stop our train to freedom and yes, we are all exhausted but our actions, no matter how small are necessary in this everyday turmoil. I truly consider that every action this administration is taking is to hide the demons that are in the Epstein file pages. Let's keep that thought first and foremost. Their money and connections cannot stop us, the everyday people, from demanding to have these files redacted. I honestly believe if we can see their names, they cannot hide any longer and the truth will illuminate and shine the light on the poisonous bacteria that is plaguing our country and the world. On March 28th, get to a protest near you, They are going to be all across our nation and numbers matter. If you know others that haven't committed to taking action, this day would be the day that might help this person to look themselves in the mirror and say 'a country UNITED cannot be DIVIDED! Keep showing up, and don't give up. We are all in this together.
This is spot on. My professional work is about the role of witnessing others. There are four witness positions not one. Most of us spend a great deal of time aware of what is happening that is toxic or immoral and feel disempowered in relation to it. What works to maintain the energy, compassion and drive to keep on keepin' on is to commit to any actions that make us feel aware and empowered. Fortunately, the brain can't tell if you have solved the hardest problems/issues of all or proxies for them. For example, on Fridays, I bake challah with my 11 year-old granddaughter. We give half of one of the loaves to our neighbors. The 18 month old can now say "Bigga challah bread" in English although he speaks Hindi and Marathi. We feel so much joy hearing his pleasure! We didn't solve world hunger! I set a small, achievable goal in the morning and do it. I have many small pleasures laced through my day. I crochet an afghan square; I find and place a few pieces of a puzzle; I read a few pages in a novel; I look at the wisteria in my neighborhood; I speak to a friend; I dance to a short piece of music. That's how I survive doing my work, reading lots of Substacks, listening to podcasts and going to city council meetings about enhanced surveillance for my city..
Thanks for the inspiring pep-talk today. Really needed it to get me out of my mental depression about the political state of our country. Along with all the other negatives happening, just found out yesterday how many congressional reps take money from AIPAC. Talk about a downer...
Do not want to be a part of the killing of innocent people around the world. That's not who we are.
This was great and my first time reading it. It's timely and helpful and offers a clear contrast to the ideas I just posted below about Asha's latest article. Thank you and I plan to share it with other friends who need a lift (like me).
***
No disrespect at all to Asha on this article, but like so many authors who I follow, our collective focus seems to be some combination of venting/ranting at and/or explanation of how and why the Trump regime is performing so against our nation's interests and our personal beliefs. Perhaps I have just missed the articles, but I'm desperate for thoughts and opinions about how to change our trajectory NOW, not post-Trump.
With all the smart people out there, and all the analysis being done about what makes people tick, there must be something that can be done to change the path we're on vs. just expecting something better following the upcoming elections. Maybe you can't change Trump, but can you change others around him? So far, the answer seems to be no. If Trump has no plan for the future, what can we do to make the present as uncomfortable for him as possible? Is that the solution? (Pritzker in Chicago seemed to have succeeded. Likewise the people in Minneapolis.)
Taking agency to the personal level, I don't know the answer to the present, but I'm so tired of hearing the latest rant against Trump whether from friends, family or commentators that I no longer pay attention - tell me something new or tell me how to fix the problem. For me, the rants provide "community" but not agency. I'm not feeling agency because I'm not seeing the path to change in the near term, so feel a sense of hopelessness and lack of control. I remind myself that Trump has already lost the majority of the American people, so change is in the offing and maybe future change is the best we can do. But I would love for us to focus on how we (as the majority) can focus on our agency and change in the near term, not at some point in the future.
Thank you Anand❤️I was just dipping into feeling guilt for not finding more ways to help and resist-the topic of a conversation last night after seeing a small-town play and having dinner together with new friends. Talk invariably turns to ‘this’. One concern we shared is that a year in, we’ve ended up in a bubble with our like-minded souls-our fear: we don’t know if enough Americans are paying attention still? To re-ignite my soul, I’m driving to a big democratic city of diversity governed by amazing women of color in Oakland, CA for No Kings 3. I hope to see thousands of my beloved citizens on the streets across the US Saturday. 💙
I cofounded Dance Against DOGE to protest Tesla & Elon in a busy area in Washington DC. What started as way to protest differently (joy, music, crazy outfits) has turned into a weekly gathering of new friends. Last week we hit 53 weeks and have no plans to stop. Our joy is contagious. Random people will jump in for a song, drivers honk and give thumbs up. Even the nation guards smile as they patrol the mean streets of Georgetown.
This joy has carried into my personal life. I’ve seen more live music in the past year than in the last decade.
Thank you for your BIG thinking and for clarity in this moment.
I heard you say this on the Daily beast Podcast. I work with horses — gathering veterans, military and first responders to remember their humanity.
I’m now offering this work to civilians — whose nervous systems are frazzled and who need to remember that the ‘thinking’ brain will never make us feel safer.
It is our hearts and bodies that recognize the real safety that only comes through a tribe, a herd, a flock or a pack. Just like all mammals who are non-predatory, horses can’t regulate their nervous systems on their own. We can’t either, so your antidote is spot on.
These horses are the means by which I build my capacity to return to the frey —grounded, centered and renewed.
Thank you for this message —and all of your brilliant work!
I’ve been spending a lot of time with my indoor bunny - another non-predatory animal. Your work with horses sounds beautifully restorative for all involved.
Write a letter by hand, put it in an envelope with a stamp. Mail it. Look forward to a reply.
You just gave me the opening read for our Seder. Thanks, man!!!
#shorts - 💕 Edward Norton is a Hero, he says ‘The Only Antidote to the Anxiety is some kind of Action’. 🇺🇸
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWJ9oxNiJfh/?igsh=cWZnMGs1dXdrdnF3
###
Key Aspects of STAX Technology:
✅ Emission Capture: A 245-foot boom with a flexible pipe attaches to the ship’s exhaust, channeling emissions into a, STAX Engineering barge-mounted processing unit.
✅ Pollutant Removal: The system, which functions as a "smokestack vac," captures particulate matter and nitrogen oxides.
✅ Port Compliance: Designed for docked ships (container, tanker, auto carriers), this technology helps ports meet CARB (California Air Resources Board) regulations, which aim for significant reduction of at-berth emissions.
✅ Complementary Technology: It serves as a, Stax Engineering "complementary solution" to shore power, particularly for vessels that are not yet equipped to plug into land-based electricity.
I love this essay! I cook and bake. I’m gonna be making food they want to deport! Brilliant essay! Thank you!
I believe so many No Kings this weekend will bring together both- the "responding" with ".. joy and connection and community and love and food and music and human difference and living and letting live is everything they are not and is everything they are trying to take away." The rally/protest here will have speakers but also food, music, people from all walks of life.
Great vitamin shot, thank you, Anand.
I live in BK (looking forward to hearing you and Rebecca Solnit tomorrow at the library! )
I’m feeling a bit encouraged these days as seems like my neighbors are moving a bit away from the luxury of self-absorption to helping their neighbors with goods and services and caring (eg shoveling the last blizzard’s snow from elder and disabled neighbors’ walkways. Quite different from previous years).
Maybe I’m a dreamer, but seems like folks are moving a bit away from “I me, mine” to “hey, need a hand with that?” Very different vibe now.
Right in the here-and-now, my group is all of the Patriots that show up at our weekly Stand Outs in the center of my small town. I love every single one of them because we see each other, we hear each other and we connect on a level where we know decency and we know when we are being lied to and we see the schemes that are being perpetrated to our people by the fascists that want to crush us. Well, we cannot be denied our right to this country our forbearer's have fought to give us. I stand and keep hope alive because without hope we are lost. Maybe the thing we need to do is accept there are and probably will always be people that are prone to being lost in this cult or any cult. I want to know who they are in my little orbit because when we can see them up close we can then see what needs to be done to keep our collective consciousness from being polluted. We are peaceful, we care about our neighbors, we are helpers and we share all of the truths that we see that will create the world we want to live in, OUR America of brave and true patriots. Right now we have to stop feeling lost. Take action. Read all that can shine a light to others. This freedom we have is on the precipice of good vs. evil. We see that, but we can't stop our train to freedom and yes, we are all exhausted but our actions, no matter how small are necessary in this everyday turmoil. I truly consider that every action this administration is taking is to hide the demons that are in the Epstein file pages. Let's keep that thought first and foremost. Their money and connections cannot stop us, the everyday people, from demanding to have these files redacted. I honestly believe if we can see their names, they cannot hide any longer and the truth will illuminate and shine the light on the poisonous bacteria that is plaguing our country and the world. On March 28th, get to a protest near you, They are going to be all across our nation and numbers matter. If you know others that haven't committed to taking action, this day would be the day that might help this person to look themselves in the mirror and say 'a country UNITED cannot be DIVIDED! Keep showing up, and don't give up. We are all in this together.
This is spot on. My professional work is about the role of witnessing others. There are four witness positions not one. Most of us spend a great deal of time aware of what is happening that is toxic or immoral and feel disempowered in relation to it. What works to maintain the energy, compassion and drive to keep on keepin' on is to commit to any actions that make us feel aware and empowered. Fortunately, the brain can't tell if you have solved the hardest problems/issues of all or proxies for them. For example, on Fridays, I bake challah with my 11 year-old granddaughter. We give half of one of the loaves to our neighbors. The 18 month old can now say "Bigga challah bread" in English although he speaks Hindi and Marathi. We feel so much joy hearing his pleasure! We didn't solve world hunger! I set a small, achievable goal in the morning and do it. I have many small pleasures laced through my day. I crochet an afghan square; I find and place a few pieces of a puzzle; I read a few pages in a novel; I look at the wisteria in my neighborhood; I speak to a friend; I dance to a short piece of music. That's how I survive doing my work, reading lots of Substacks, listening to podcasts and going to city council meetings about enhanced surveillance for my city..
Thanks for the inspiring pep-talk today. Really needed it to get me out of my mental depression about the political state of our country. Along with all the other negatives happening, just found out yesterday how many congressional reps take money from AIPAC. Talk about a downer...
Do not want to be a part of the killing of innocent people around the world. That's not who we are.
Thank you. We appreciate need to be reminded of this message.
This was great and my first time reading it. It's timely and helpful and offers a clear contrast to the ideas I just posted below about Asha's latest article. Thank you and I plan to share it with other friends who need a lift (like me).
***
No disrespect at all to Asha on this article, but like so many authors who I follow, our collective focus seems to be some combination of venting/ranting at and/or explanation of how and why the Trump regime is performing so against our nation's interests and our personal beliefs. Perhaps I have just missed the articles, but I'm desperate for thoughts and opinions about how to change our trajectory NOW, not post-Trump.
With all the smart people out there, and all the analysis being done about what makes people tick, there must be something that can be done to change the path we're on vs. just expecting something better following the upcoming elections. Maybe you can't change Trump, but can you change others around him? So far, the answer seems to be no. If Trump has no plan for the future, what can we do to make the present as uncomfortable for him as possible? Is that the solution? (Pritzker in Chicago seemed to have succeeded. Likewise the people in Minneapolis.)
Taking agency to the personal level, I don't know the answer to the present, but I'm so tired of hearing the latest rant against Trump whether from friends, family or commentators that I no longer pay attention - tell me something new or tell me how to fix the problem. For me, the rants provide "community" but not agency. I'm not feeling agency because I'm not seeing the path to change in the near term, so feel a sense of hopelessness and lack of control. I remind myself that Trump has already lost the majority of the American people, so change is in the offing and maybe future change is the best we can do. But I would love for us to focus on how we (as the majority) can focus on our agency and change in the near term, not at some point in the future.
Beautiful, Anand. Love this community.
You said all the things I feel AND DO. Thank you.