This has been a rough week (who am I kidding, it’s been a rough year) to say the least. Donald Trump’s win has left countless people devastated, and in many cases, genuinely afraid. Now more than ever, people are wondering what to do next.
Speak up
You may not think that your voice will make a difference, but if everyone said that then no one would be out there fighting for change. From petitions, online activism, and how you behave in your everyday life, there are countless ways to speak up. At the end of the day, your voice matters a whole lot more than you think it does.
Organize
There’s power in numbers! Organizing not only helps make a difference and get the word out, but it also serves as a way for you to heal and work through your emotions since you’re surrounded by others who feel the same way.
Find a Cause and Volunteer
If you’re feeling hopeless about the future of this country (trust me, it’s easy to feel that way), go out and find an organization that you’re passionate about. In the same way that organizing has the dual benefit of helping others while helping yourself, volunteering has the same effect. If you go in with the intention of helping others, one way or another you’ll learn that you’re also helping yourself by feeling good about what you’re doing in the process.
If you have privilege— use it
During this time, many marginalized groups are feeling genuinely scared for their lives. From people of color, women, LGBTQ individuals, religious minorities, etc., there are people out there who are afraid right now, and for valid reasons. If you don’t have a reason to be afraid, you should use your position of privilege to stand up to injustices that you may witness due to your ability to safely do so.
If you’re scared— that’s okay.
Take as much time as you need to deal with this. In this time of uncertainty and distress, it's crucial to work through your feelings, especially if you or your family are directly negatively impacted by Trump’s presidency and the animosity that has already began to ensue among people as a result of it.
At the end of the day, we'll get through this, but we need to stand up and speak out if we want to grow from this experience and make sure that future generations do not have to face these same obstacles.
