Adulting or As You Were

11/6/2024

 

 Last night things went much worse than I expected.

Many of the people I know are worried, afraid for the state of the world, fearful for their rights or the rights of others. They expect war, collapse, tyranny, ruin. I worry about these things too.

And they are afraid – as am I – because the victory seemed so total. Coverage of the election served as a reminder that half, maybe even most of the country has values that seem the opposite of what we’ve been raised to believe we should laud.

Of the things to come, of the fears, and of how we can work with and smile at our fellow Americans in the coming months and years much will be written.

But what can you do, what can I to today? Tomorrow?

You can keep doing exactly what you already were, and what you would have if the outcome had been different:

You can pour up a cup of coffee and focus on your work. Create things of value, or at least strive to earn a lot of money. Control your expenses as best you can while not turning away from the marrow of good things that make life enjoyable. Invest as much and as wisely as you can. Through earning, regulated thrift, saving, and holding on to wealth you can provide for the people you love.

You can be kind, supportive, protective of those who need kindness, support, or a shield. Offer quiet assistance when asked, offer humble protection when it is needed. Continue to believe in the rights of the individual against bullies and strive to shield the innocent from the brutal machines of the state.

Try to model the behaviors and values you want to be more common in the world. Approach others with curiosity, acceptance of difference, and the kindness you would hope they would in turn direct towards any living being they encountered. Teach the children in your lives to be honest, fair, just, merciful and to never punch down. Live your life the best way you can, and hope your example inspires more good behavior in the world.

Protect the Earth, nature, and our complex fragile ecosystem. Reduce, reuse, recycle. Remember that your dollars are votes, and that small actions taken by billions of people regularly can help our planet sustain more and more pleasant life for far longer than if we simply give in to the rapacious fires of industry. You cannot save them all, but you can save this one.

And all this talk might seem a thin blanket of words against a future that can be frightening and unknown, in which dark forces seem to have gained the upper hand.

But this is always the world you’ve lived in. And these are the ways you have behaved for decades, and the same things you would need to do if things had gone differently.

This doesn’t change how you need to behave or what you need to do. As you were.