Usually, I welcome the New Year by choosing one word to serve as my intention for the year. But this year, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. The chaos in the world and the uncertainties of life left me feeling less than enthusiastic about the future. I'm typically obnoxiously optimistic, but catastrophizing had nearly shut me down.
Then, the word came to me. The minute I saw the image on social media, I knew my word had chosen me. The image said, "In 2025, I chose JOY as an act of resistance." Eureka! (This phrase, "Joy is an act of resistance," comes from a poem written by Toi Derricotte.)
It's so tempting right now to find a hidey hole and dig in, but living a fearful life is soulless. Finding joy amidst struggles is a powerful act of defiance. Now more than ever, we need to tap into this joy to fuel our resilience and stand against oppression.
Because when we embrace joy, we reclaim our power. It disrupts the narrative that our worth is linked to our suffering. Celebrating moments of happiness and connection are acts of resistance against despair.
So much of what happens in the world is not within our control. Spending all our time fretting over what is or might be happening is an anxious existence and is not sustainable. The only thing that quells my anxiety is having a plan. Here are some things we can do to make a difference where we can.
Invest in social connections.
When we mourn, we come together with our family and friends to cling to the comfort of being with others who feel the loss. It does our hearts and bodies good to be in the same physical space with the people we love, laughing until the tears roll down our legs and getting long, soul-felt hugs.
Social media and the internet are cheap imitations of real life. Rather than always gathering online in places where we can be manipulated, divided, and stalked, let's start coming together in person again. The magic that happens when we're together is powerful.
The Finishing School for Modern Women and the Badass Women of Wichita Alliance is always a fun, loving environment for real-life interactions. Is it time for you to finally come to one of our events?
Reach for hope
One of the best things we can do right now is to reach for hope. What can you look forward to? What brings you joy?
Focusing on the positive outcomes we want, rather than what we don't want to happen, does amazing things. It shifts our thinking to what we may be able to change rather than fretting about what we can't control. See if you can become a beacon of hope for others.
Practice SOUL-CARE
When I spoke at the LGBT Chamber of Commerce last month, we renamed self-care to SOUL-CARE. "Self-care" feels superficial, like small indulgences to make you temporarily feel better. While SOUL-CARE is more about digging deeper to manage our mental, physical, and emotional well-being through healthy habits and boundaries.
Join an established organization and volunteer.
Look for local organizations that are already established and get involved. If you can give one hour of your time a week, that's 52 hours a year that you've worked to make a difference. Even the busiest people can manage that.
You can't do everything.
All causes you choose to support need your help on an ongoing basis. There are so many causes that it's hard to know where to start. Trying to do too much for too many causes will burn you out quickly. Choose your battles. Know your limits and do what you can without overwhelming yourself.
Attend rallies and demonstrations.
Big groups at rallies and demonstrations are impactful. Attending rallies helps people come together for particular issues to be more visible, showing others there's a widespread concern. It also helps people understand that others share their concerns, making them feel less isolated.
Offer moral support to vocal friends.
Working on causes can be frustrating and challenging work. Help keep people motivated by checking in on your active friends, thanking them for their hard work, and encouraging them to keep going. Let them know they're not alone. Be an ally for friends who deal with oppression. Remember to take care of yourself as well. You can't advocate if you ignore your own health.
Call your elected officials.
No matter your cause, the most effective way to let elected officials know where you stand is by calling them. The 5 Calls website and app are an easy and effective way to contact elected officials and voice your opinion. Choose an issue that's important to you, and with the click of a button, you can learn about the issue and make a call to your representatives using a suggested script.
Donate
Giving money to organizations that work on causes you care about is a simple way to make a big difference. Research organizations you plan to give money to or raise funds for so you know where your money will go and what it will pay for.
Let your money talk
Deciding which companies to do business with, based on their business practices and who they give charitable contributions to, sends a powerful message. Research the companies you spend money with to find out what and who they support. Goods Unite Us is a fantastic resource.
Do your Research
It's easy to get pulled into sensationalist websites that are in business to make money from advertising, not reporting the facts, especially when the stories support your views. To make sure the news is accurate, do some research before sharing by doing a browser search for other articles on the same topic to find out if the site is reputable. Check out Indivisible for keeping informed and actionable steps to take.
Subscribe to independent newspapers and bloggers.
One of the best ways to protect our First Amendment rights and get insight into what is happening is to subscribe to publications and support independent journalists offering fair and balanced reporting. Rather than subscribing to large corporately owned publications, check out smaller local publications and respected bloggers for your news.
If you see something, do something.
No matter what it is, do something if you see something that doesn't look right. Take videos on your phone and share them. Report harassment, whether you or someone else is the victim. Get help to rescue animals in danger. Pick up litter you see in your path. Every little bit makes a difference somewhere.
Vote!
One of our biggest responsibilities as citizens is to let our voices be heard by voting in every election. Take time to find out your representatives' platforms, rather than voting for one party, to find the candidates that align best with your beliefs. Don't skip primaries and local elections. They are just as important, if not more so, than national elections.
Whatever you decide to do or not do, please know this - we are survivors.
I've been recording an audio version of my book, Never Finished Practical Advice for Modern Women to Inspire Your Fierce, Authentic Self. Reading every one of the 56 essays included in the book has reminded me of some things I'd forgotten.
Going back to reread some of the essays I wrote during the pandemic was insightful. The situation felt hopeless then, and society made it through to the other side.
No matter what happens this time, we will persevere. We have the combined strength of our connections and the ability to resist through joy.
What action will you take?
Did you know I've published a book? Learn more about it here!
Because We’re Never Finished
The Finishing School for Modern Women, located in Wichita, Kansas, offers classes to help women find their authentic selves, not because we need finishing, but because we’re never finished. We bring together women of all ages to learn from experts and each other how to claim our power in business, finance, communication, and life.
To learn more about what we do:
https://www.finishingschoolformodernwomen.com for our classes and free social membership.
Contact Us
Phone: 316-841-8927 Email: jill@finishingschoolformodernwomen.com
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