Sunday Stack: Protecting My Peace

It's here. This time I'm doing things differently.

Photo by Daniil Onischenko on Unsplash

I’m chopping carrots and I’m thinking of Kamala. I’m making Chicken Stew, thanks to some too-close-to-the-expiration-date poultry included in our online grocery order, and I’m hoping that Kamala also is cooking some comfort food for her Sunday dinner, a task she’s said to love and one that “grounds her.”

If there’s ever been a time for comfort food, this is it.

I think I’ll be saying that a lot in the foreseeable future.

Because it’s here. The reboot of a horrible reality show that, from the previews, looks even worse than the original.

You know what I’m talking about.

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This time, I’m doing things differently.

I’m taking a page from Michelle Obama and protecting my peace as much as I can from the atrocities and abominations of this incoming regime. To me, protecting my peace means not succumbing to feelings of despair, especially over things I cannot control. Not reading speculative articles about what he’s going to do and what’s going to happen. That only feeds my anxiety and fear and feelings of helplessness.

Rather, I’m being intentional and selective about what deserves my attention and what I allow in.

I’m seeking out other credible sources and voices, such as The Contrarian, the newly-launched Substack venture by Washington Post veteran journalist Jennifer Rubin and former White House ethics czar Norm Eisen, along with several dozen contributors.

I’m spending less time on social media — not abandoning it, mind you, just less doomscrolling— and ignoring the antics and theatrics. I’m staying on Facebook because of the ease in staying connected with the people and communities I care about. BlueSky is up in the air; not sure if I like it yet.

I’m finding other diversions, like being creative with my journals or watching a new TV show with the husband. (Over the holidays we got hooked on High Potential and Matlock, and this week we finally started — and now understand all the hype around — The Bear.)

And, as I mentioned earlier, I’m cooking all the comfort food. Chicken parmesan. Italian Spinach Orzo Soup. Chicken Stew.

That’s how I’m protecting my peace.

This doesn’t mean I’m not worried about what’s to come or burying my head in the sand and being oblivious. Far from it. Too many people I love have so much to lose and I’ll do whatever I can to help protect them.

It’s just that I gave away too much of my attention and power last time.

And I absolutely refuse to do that again.

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Since my last Sunday Stack, I’ve read three books. One of them was On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder (Crown, 2017) who writes:

Life is political, not because the world cares about how you feel, but because the world reacts to what you do. The minor choices we make are themselves a kind of vote, making it more or less likely that free and fair elections will be held in the future. In the politics of the everyday, our words and gestures, or their absence, count very much.

Snyder’s short book makes a big impact. In just over 100 pages, he provides a historical perspective of democracies that fell to fascism and outlines twenty lessons that we can learn. Some naysayers may feel that they’re too basic or all is lost because we obviously haven’t learned them, but I thought this was sobering yet empowering. I felt better after reading it and highlighting 58 passages. It’s my first 5-star read of the year. Highly recommend.

Because we will need as much goodness and light as possible, I’m going to try and remember to end my Sunday Stacks with at least one uplifting or positive thing.

• We’re getting a new book from Elizabeth Gilbert!

• Los Angeles native (and Pacific Palisades resident) poet Amanda Gorman has a new poem, “Smoldering Dawn” released on Instagram as a fundraiser for the California Fire Foundation.

• This video of a man being reunited with his dog Oreo after the California fires is the most heartwarming thing ever.

Take care of yourselves this week, my friends.