Though shouts of joy may be heard among a certain cohort of red-hat-wearing individuals this week, many of us find ourselves concerned and fearful for the future. We are learning that Donald Trump has returned to office with teeth this time. He has come prepared to act on the more sinister of his campaign promises — the ones that made his supporters roar with delight and those of us in opposition pray they were just empty words to stir his base. And while that base continues to tell us we didn’t see and hear the very things we saw and heard — and if we did see and hear them, then that’s not what was meant — we know better this time.
We are concerned, but we refuse to live in fear.
We are angry, but we will not let anger pupate into hate.
We are a resistance brewing in coffee shop corners and pockets of online spaces, planning our next moves.
Those next moves may look different for each of us.
For some, resistance will look like demonstrations, boycotts, and public dissent. They will be a loud and undeniable voice of protest and protection.
For others, resistance may look like community organizing. They will strengthen their neighborhoods, counties, schools, and workplaces, reminding people that in these historic times it is more important than ever to reconnect with our real-life relationships.
There will be those who say that the key to resistance is to become a public nuisance. They will be the administration’s number one menace, getting into all the good trouble that creates waves of change. They will stoke the fires of anger, outrage, and even fear, as these are powerful motivators.
And, in keeping with the way of the world where balance always seems to find itself, there will be those who whisper prayers of hope, joy, resilience, and possibility to the masses. They will remind us that even in uncertain times, there are things worth believing in. They will tell us to look for the helpers— to find solace in the faces of the folks who are bringing comfort in moments of hardship. They will speak peace, they will promote joy; they will remind us that flowers can bloom even through the rockiest of soil.
At this last group, you may bristle. You may wonder if they are blind or ignorant to the pain of the world—and you may be right. But you may be wrong.
Resistance needs all types. It needs all tools. It needs those who fight the battles, and those to tend the wounds. As long as resistance must exist, so must these roles.
Maybe you aren’t the storm the field type. Perhaps that has left you feeling like you have nothing to offer in the upcoming years as we fight to preserve the values we hold dear. Trust me, dear one, you have so much to offer. If you find yourself in possession of a quieter, gentler spirit—the kind that would rather offer sprigs of hope than thorns of outrage—you are needed. You are important. Your gifts have value. The folks doing the less gentle work will need their enthusiasm and motivation recharged when their work has drained them past their breaking point. Your gift of encouragement may be precisely what they need—a balm to wounds too deep to heal on their own.
Hope, joy, and belief in the power to change the future are powerful acts of resistance. Share them liberally.
Amber Wardell is a doctor of psychology and author who speaks on women’s issues related to marriage, motherhood, and mental health. Subscribe to the free newsletter to get exclusive content delivered to your inbox and to never miss an upload.
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