Switching Gears
To improve control and avoid burnout
To my small but merry band of readers, I want to apologize for my extended absences.
I haven’t been active on Substack, which means that my own posting was practically nonexistent, and my reading of your newsletters not much better.
Autumn gets busy with two major holidays, but this year, my son’s family was visiting in October as well. That involved cleaning, cooking, and all the extras that we do when expecting houseguests. These tasks had to start earlier, and as soon as those were completed and the houseguests gone, the usual Thanksgiving and Christmas preparations began.
I just want you to know why I haven’t been engaging with your publications, and I plan to do better in 2026. Fingers crossed. 🤞🏼
With a “fresh start” in mind, I’m also moving away from the initial subject matter that prompted Life Matters and into something more positive. More on that in a moment.
The horrors we’re seeing here in our country are beyond anything I could’ve imagined. The photos and videos of people being beaten outside their homes, schools, and workplaces, and dragged away by masked men and women (who masquerade as law enforcement), are truly the stuff of nightmares.
We’re living in the hellscape of fascism that’s just getting started.
We know that many of these mercenaries hired by the federal government are violent J-6 insurrectionists. These people have big chips on their shoulders and a hatred of anyone who doesn’t look like them and adhere to their beliefs.
It’s like the bullies have taken over the playground and outnumber the “good” kids. But they don’t outnumber us; they just get all the attention.
There are many decent Americans working to stop the madness in various ways. Some are well-known, like attorney Marc Elias of Democracy Docket. According to The New York Times, "Elias has arguably done more than any single person outside government to shape the Democratic Party and the rules under which all campaigns and elections in the United States are conducted."1
Marc isn’t intimidated by the Trump machine, and I wish our elected officials had even half the spine that he does.
Heather Cox Richardson is a prominent Substacker and historian who works as a professor of history at Boston College. She previously taught history at MIT and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She has authored seven books on history and politics. In 2019, she started publishing Letters from an American, a nightly newsletter that chronicles current events in the larger context of American history. Richardson focuses on the health of American democracy.2
In addition, large organizations like Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the Human Rights Campaign (to name just a few) are involved in fighting Trump and his authoritarian regime.
But there are many smaller groups working in their states and local communities to stop the rise of autocracy. Whether it’s campaigns, elections, education, or supporting those who are targeted, the good kids are trying their best to make the playground safe and fair for everyone.
In addition to a busy schedule, these problems also contributed to my recent “hibernation.” With the daily bad news on the rise, social media and the Internet offer a gutwrenching wealth of hate and apocalyptic headlines. The thought of dying and leaving a dystopian world to my children and grandchildren fills me with a darkness I’ve not experienced before.
The ensuing anxiety and depression drain my creative juices and sap what little energy is left over after the day’s essential work is done.
I’ve been too exhausted emotionally to write anything (except a few Christmas cards to some special pen pals). I truly want to be an informed citizen, but the struggle is real. Finding a healthy balance is key (I feel like a broken record saying that, as I’ve said it many times before).
Some of my favorite newsletters concentrate on positive things: family, hobbies, nature, pets, travel, and the lighter side of being human. I want to give it a try and perhaps counter some of the sadness that is always in the periphery of my mind and heart.
There are other activities I enjoy that can be done without a wifi connection. Spending less time on the computer is a step in the right direction.
Going forward, I’ll stick to positive, informative topics that are lighter and (hopefully) helpful in some way. And in the spirit of going analogue (as suggested by prue batten at Knots in the String), I’m starting with the concept of “living small” (the antidote to runaway American consumerism).
Stay tuned.
Thanks for reading; see you next time!
I fully understand! I’ve been a bit burnout myself and posted a lot less in H2. I’m not in the US but lots of my family is and it’s so scary! Sending love and healing. 🥰🫶🏻 look forward to future topics
Right behind you, Ms. Writer. Stay calm, centred and look for the analogue. Save your energy for when its really going to be needed.
Cheers and here's to strength in goodness and kindness.
PS: Thank you for the mention. Letter posted yesterday.