Living La Vida Loca

I am painfully aware that I live in a very comfortable daily bubble.  I am privileged in so many ways I try very hard to not take that for granted. Sure, Andrew and I have our individual and collective challenges along the way, but I am overwhelmed now – emotionally and intellectually – by feelings of anger, dismay, frustration, sadness – all bundled together with a feeling of helplessness. I have always been a “can do” problem-solver – a project manager…someone who could usually make order out of chaos and see a silver lining in most situations. But now there is some much happening in the world around us – all at the same time and mostly out of my (and other individuals’) control – that I’m struggling with how I as one individual can effect change of any consequence.

I know I am not alone. I wish that reality gave me some comfort, but it honestly doesn’t. The old adage “misery loves company” rings very hollow as I have regular conversations with family and friends who feel as deeply as I do that our country is headed down a very ugly and dangerous rabbit hole of isolationism, greed, authoritarianism, classism, and bigotry on a grand scale.  I grew up in a family dedicated to Tikkun Olam (Heal the World) and treating others as you’d have them treat you.  Now, flagrant disregard at the highest levels of government for these two humane and sacred principles is rampant – and I cannot for the life of me understand how – with each passing day – intelligent people aren’t waking up and pushing back.

Let me be clear: Underlying much of the support for the current powers that be are some very, very valid complaints. Large swathes of our population have been virtually ignored in terms of good education, decent healthcare, equal opportunity to live stable and satisfying lives.  True…there are clear problems with the existing governmental, legal, economic and bureaucratic systems.  No question there.  But instead of offering compassionate and measured solutions we are seeing the complete dismantling of not just what needs to be fixed, but the things that keep us strong and resilient.  This is truly “throwing the baby out with the bathwater”!

I realize that – in the immediate – my life will not be deeply impacted by the rapid-fire changes being made.  But that gives me ZERO comfort as I know there are people near and dear to me – and many who I don’t know personally – that are already crying for help and are being left to figure out how to survive.  I also know from history that ignoring that which doesn’t immediately affect you can absolutely catch up with you.  I’ll do all I can to support better solutions, more equitable systems, and lawmakers who see what is happening and are pushing back.  I will raise my voice in the chorus calling “foul!” and take those to task who have covered their eyes and said, “not my problem”. I know I am just one voice -but that’s all I have.