July 26th, November 17th, July 2nd, January 21, 2017. My children’s birthdays, my wedding date, the Women’s March on Washington. These are the dates I will never forget as long as I live. I haven’t finished processing the events of the day just yet, but I have SO much to talk about that I couldn’t wait another minute to write the first post.
Let’s talk about how I feel right now. I’m at about 48 hours post march as I’m writing. I feel inspired. I feel optimistic. My heart is full of light and love. I have a renewed energy. I feel a new and powerful connection with 3 million people I’ve never met. I’m physically exhausted and mentally prepared to ACT. The shirts my sister and I wore on Saturday say “we have been awakened”. That about sums it up.
We may have been living in a bubble, but we aren’t anymore. We are ready, willing, and able to fight. And that’s what we are going to have to do…fight. Fight for gender equity, LGBTQ rights, religious liberties, immigrants’ rights, women’s reproductive rights, for freedom of speech and freedom of the press and freedom to peaceably assemble, for clean water and clean air, for renewable energy, for prison reform and gun reform, for single payer health care and for the black Americans all across the country who are afraid of the people who are meant to protect them.
The list is long. It feels overwhelming, yes. But when you stop to realize that you are not alone, that 3 million of your closest allies have your back, it doesn’t seem overwhelming at all. Whether you were on the ground in Washington, marching in one of the hundreds of Sister Marches around the world, or cheering us on from wherever you live, we all felt that energy. It followed us home and we can’t let the energy fizzle…not even for one second. We have been awakened and there’s no time for complacency anymore.
I’ll continue to talk more about the March in upcoming posts. I’ll also start talking with you about how you can get involved in this fight yourself. Whether you can commit 5 hours a week or 5 minutes a day, there is something you can do to help. Check back soon for the next update and be sure to let me know your ideas for advancing the cause.
Show me what democracy looks like!
This is what democracy looks like!
Now We Stand 