After: Day 35

Lots of wonderful things have happened since I posted last, but today’s news hit me like a wall, and I’m still struggling to comprehend it all. To be fair, almost none of this is “new” news, but it’s difficult to stay on top of the rest of the world with the daily onslaught of news about the massively volatile political state of our country. It’s easy to shelter yourself from the daily political updates, and carry on with life as if everything is normal, but we can’t afford to be comfortably naïve to what’s going on.

While I’m definitely not saying some news is more important than other news, I am only capable of reading so many articles in one day, and these are the ones that have really stuck with me.

Broken Men in Paradise – An article about refugees who are trapped on Australian islands with no hope of escape. I’m embarrassed that I immediately faulted Australians who live happy carefree lives while torture and abuse are happening within eyesight. I failed to realize that I am no better, and there are people in my country, my city, and my neighborhood who are living lives of fear and abuse. A different situation, no doubt, but enough to guilt me for placing blame. The next article is a perfect reminder of this.

Concordia, LA – One of the sickest counties in the U.S. – How is it the 21st century, and there are Americans living in absolute filth with no help from their government. Why on earth are we replacing water lines in wealthy neighborhoods when these people don’t even have functioning sewers? 

Goodbye Messages from Aleppo – This is heartbreaking to watch.

The White Helmets – A reminder that there are still so so so many good people in the world, fighting every single day for what’s right. This just shot to the top of my watch list on Netflix

Image may contain: 3 people, people sitting

 

 

Happier words to come, promise.

 

After: Day 9

Amidst the never-ending flood of bad news, there are always good people doing good things, and voicing the words that need to be heard.

Today, the words come from Ben Joravsky, a journalist for the Chicago Reader who shares my sentiments on a lot of topics including Rahm, TIFs, and Chicago’s education situation. Seriously I love this guy and he’s one of the few people in the media who I trust to write the truth. He does a “thing” at The Hideout called First Tuesdays which I am dying to go to but haven’t been able to make it yet. (Dana, pencil it in for January)

Today I am extremely grateful for his latest article about Chicago’s Trump Resistance which awkwardly touches on one of my least favorite politicians (Rahm) doing the right thing (Sanctuary City). Weird, right?

In related news, I’m going to start reading One Man Against The World tonight, since I’m a firm believer that we will learn from our mistakes and that history does not need to repeat itself.

xo, happy day

Chicago Sanctuary City 2016

After: Day 7

Felted Chickadee Wreath

A week ago today, I was living in a tense but hopeful state, anxious for the election, but confident that Trump would not win.

Now, our country is reeling from an unprecedented election, struggling to make sense of the new normal. Every day that passes brings news of assaults, attacks, and brutal treatment of minorities across the country. The media is issuing Breaking News alerts right and left, every time a new and even more disgusting politician is appointed, or our president elect makes another poor choice. It is so so so important that we don’t hide from this negativity, but we stay informed and educated on the choices being made in our government. There are endless ways of staying informed, and for me, Twitter is the source that is easiest and most convenient. Here are some of the most powerful articles I’ve read this week:

On Steve Bannon – A sexist, abusive, anti-semite with a criminal record a mile long, and our new Chief Strategist

More on Steve Bannon

Vice Morning Bulletin

Despite all of this, there is still good in the world and I’m holding tight to all of it. Here are some things that gave me hope or made me smile this week.

Chicago is and will continue to be a Sanctuary City for immigrants.

Felted Chickadee Wreath
This gorgeous wreath from Anthropologie

This job posting and the reminder that there is such thing as ‘good’ change.

Hand Lettered Typography - Dumbledore Harry Potter Quote
Dumbledore’s Infinite Wisdom

 

My Uber driver the other night who wished me “A good evening and an even better day tomorrow.” (cue emotional meltdown)