Several of you have asked me how I stay hopeful, and what are my coping strategies in stressful times like these. I rely on six.
1. Young people. My students (all 750 of them this semester) are mostly around 20 years old. My colleagues at Inequality Media are mostly in their late 20s. In other words, all are about a half-century younger than I am. Their energy, optimism, laughter, and hopefulness are hugely infectious.
2. Laughter. I try to find at least five things to laugh at each day (including myself). As I age, I find that the world is brimming with ironies, that the cosmos is deviously humorous, and that most of the people I know or read about are hilarious (whether they know it or not).
3. Activism. I not only stay active physically, but also try to help push my small corner of the world toward truth and social justice. The more I do, the better I feel. I love this Substack because it gives me an opportunity to share some thoughts and ideas with you, and hear your own thoughts and ideas.
4. Nature and personal time. I’m blessed to live in a beautiful place, with gorgeous flora and with mountains descending into glorious valleys and to the sea, along with easily accessible trails. Quiet walking through this fabulous environment puts me at ease.
5. Dance. There is nothing that lifts my spirits more quickly than clicking on a song by Paul Simon, the Doobie Brothers, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Buena Vista Social Club, or Dolly Parton – and dancing. My preference is to dance with someone, but I’m perfectly happy to dance alone in my kitchen.
6. History. Not only do I love to read it, but I learn a great deal from reading it – especially the truism that we’ve been here before. Lately I’ve been focusing my attention on the years between 1870 and 1916 – the first Gilded Age, followed by the Progressive Era. I’ve found many parallels between then and now, along with quite a bit that’s encouraging.
What I’ve left out and why:
Friends? I have them, and sometimes they contribute to one of the six-mentioned coping mechanisms above. But (and here again, probably age-related) I’ve found that too often our get-togethers descend into gripe sessions about the nation, the world, or personal health. Ugh.
Family? I love them dearly. But I don’t rely on them to buoy my spirits. That’s too much of a burden to place on them. And, of course, families are complicated in all sorts of ways.
Work? I’m trying to cut back on the parts of my work that don’t fit under the six-mentioned coping mechanisms, because they’re mostly meetings about processes or they’re paperwork or they require bureaucratic problems. I don’t really enjoy any of this, and I have less and less time for them.
One of my biggest and most soothing coping mechanisms is listening to YOU, Prof Reich. I've followed you since I first saw Inequality for All. Just this week I'm rewatching the W&P class lectures, and this morning I read your brilliant essay on the Putin/Trump/Carlson common messaging... at the behest of and in service to corporate interests. Wow.
I happened to read your piece in the Guardian just after reading how ISIS targeted angry and frustrated young men to commit their violence, including the murder of James Foley and others. Sounds familiar.
I feel informed and galvanized, practicing my replies and questions to the many people around me with whom I disagree. I'm part of a letters-to-the-editor writing group in AZ - we are focusing a narrow sliver of voters who are persuadable. A calm and consistent stance is a great asset.
focus on what I can control. Seeing every dollar that I spend as a vote for the kind of world I want to live in. Buy local. Buy organic. Buy used. Live simply. Put my money not towards stuff but towards people and planet. Put my energy into restoration of biodiversity in my yard and my neighborhood.
I try to help others and my community. I am a volunteer director of a community land trust. We purchase blighted properties to renovate and sell to first time home buyers at affordable rates. It is painful to see how people live in our city slums. The landlords are deployable. They are more greedy humans who wish to be as wealthy as those who are destroying this country. Only by helping one family at a time can I find hope. Frankly, I will only find optimism again when white color crime results in real punishment. When the bankers and accountants who caused me to lose savings for retirement in 2008 are in jail. Sorry, but instead of worrying that our democracy is threatened, we need to rewrite our constitution to form a better government than the one we have.
I read this newsletter, Letters From An American, Today’s Edition by Robert Hubbell. I also watch Trae Crowder on YouTube. He’s the Liberal Redneck. Lord, he makes me laugh! But I also take a long walk most days, and I am babysitting my baby granddaughter. At 3 months, she’s a delight. I hear her baby coos and see her fascinated by her fingers. The stupid stuff all the old people in Washington are doing fades into the background. I work in my yard and makes plans for flowers and veggies. I watch and listen to the birds, and I see the bees and other pollinators visiting the flowers. The natural world, even as threatened as it is, carries on with the business of life. I try to keep calm and carry on, kind of like the Queen does. Tearing one’s hair out over the mean, hateful things people are doing all over the place eventually just leaves one bald. I pray and I have a glass of wine occasionally.
It's a bit difficult in isolation - but "changing up" to a different gear: slowing down the tempo with some time spent in nature (e.g. sunshine) or, alternatively, some vigorous cardiovascular exercise. Also, maintaining a health breadth, e.g. activities like cooking & interests like art!
I stay hopeful by keeping to a regular routine of talking to longtime friends, daily exercises, lots of reading and music (classical and jazz, especially), signing petitions and writing comments on news stories (where permitted).
The routine above keeps me from declining into the enervating misery of despair and cynicism, which is exactly the trap that the enemies of democracy seek to instill.
After retiring 10 years ago I went back to teach. Preparing classes and finding ways to connect with students gives me a major lift. Volunteering at the food bank let’s me connect with other volunteers and with members of the community who are in need. Directing the zoom meetings of the San Francisco Economic Round Table, sponsoring a Canadian friend who is leaving for Poland and the Ukraine to be a bus driver for refugees and for rescuing animals. Helping my … (too personal). I think most everyone can make a contribution to the community even in small ways. It is rewarding and it helps me to cope. Not to forget exercising and walking to enjoy beautiful wonders of nature, working in the garden is also great and shows immediately results…..
I act rather than react. I practice mental mastery to focus on the here and now and do not rob myself of the present by thinking too much about the future. I read Heather Cox Richardson's Letter From An American every morning. I read what you write and listen to your videos. I am grateful to be in the company of truth tellers. The more truth we are exposed to, the more hopeful I feel our Democracy will survive. I play Pickleball everyday, most frequently outside in local parks. The games are full of laughter. Though officially retired, I spend several hours each week mentoring a few prison inmates as they prepare for the world outside of prison. I choose my thoughts carefully because experience has taught me that my thoughts mobilize my feelings. Thoughts may be the only thing I can control to keep myself in a state of hopefulness. Cheers!
I'm coping one day at a time! I have cut off cable and get most of my news from NPR, BBC America, and World News on PBS. I've stopped trying to change people's minds and have started listening to what they are saying...everyone is scared but not everyone is brainwashed! This leads us back to you and the information you continue to provide...thank you :)
I stay hopeful by helping others. For the past 18 months or so I have been cooking to support the healthcare workers at my local hospital, bringing them food 2 to 3 times a week. I feel an empathy for what they do, having retired from medical practice about 8 years. ago.
As Napoleon once remarked, "Une armée se déplace sur son ventre." (An army advances on its stomach). I can't care for the patients any longer but I can care for those who do...
For most of my adult life I've been prompted to "do something." Indeed, I became a licensed social worker and an activist. Now, I am quite ancient and sometimes anxious about our world and our country. I've been reading a lot about Eleanor Roosevelt and I also watched the PBS series about the Roosevelts. Here is what I learned: Eleanor began her humanitarian efforts on a very humble scale; she made coffee and sandwiches for the doughboys off to war. What she did was dig in and do the hard stuff, hours each day without grandiose aspirations of "fixing" the world. Decades later she was given a standing ovation at the opening of the United Nations. She was a founder and she was respected throughout the world for her tirelessness, commitment to peace and justice, and humbleness. Indeed, she was the impetus behind the many humanitarian bills that President Roosevelt passed to bring the nation out of the depression. That was a key for me. Just do something, do it well, do the dirty work. In other words, Chop Wood, Carry Water. Even small efforts add up. Oh, I also meditate to manage that anxiety!
There is not much we can control in the world except our "attitude" and "choices" we make every single day. Attitudes can positively or negatively affect a person's behavior. A person may not always be aware of his or her attitude or the effect it is having on behavior. A person who has positive attitude (such as contentment, friendliness, etc.) can positively influence those around them. I try to influence those around me be it in person, on the internet, through social media or other applications. I understand both sides of most issues. There are always ways to find a compromise. I follow Dr. Elaine Kissel. She teaches about our subconscious talking to our conscious. Her book: "The Mind is Willing" is a must read. Plus I help people every day that need help with our home care company. Helping others is a great way to cope. We are all on this planet for a short time. As we age we must become role models for the next generation. What did Will Smith slapping Chris Rock teach our kids Sunday night? What did Chris Rock learn about making fun of others? Perhaps learning to cope in today's new world is a work in progress for us all.
If I did nothing but fret and worry and ruminate on all the problems, I'd be as depressed as a hound dog. Doing something keeps me up and optimistic and energized.
After 47 years of civic activism and organizing, I took stock of the future. In rural communities where I spent 35 years, activists in my network were all getting older. I was worried and sent out an email, asking hey, when we retire, do we plan on taking our experience, knowledge, skills and connections OUT of our networks along with us? We need to talk about this, because the 100 people I am emailing right now, have a collective 4,000 years of experience.
The response to that email was so inspiring, I won’t need inspiration for the rest of my life.
With few exceptions, we’ve moved into support, mentor, research and/or historian roles for young leaders. For example, I do everything from baking cookies, making coffee, running errands, proof-reading and babysitting, to consulting on non-profit development to writing explainers on laws and practices related to land-use and rural development.
Another retiree is building an archive of the movement she spent 47 years in as an attorney. Her archive work uncovered documentation in support of a case heard by the Supreme Court last year.
Without relationships, elected officials, politicians, and powerful business people will NOT take your call. By slowly and carefully transferring our relationship networks to young leaders, we helped short-circuit the time it would have taken them to build those relationships on their own.
Of course, you can’t do this work if you don’t know any young leaders. Unfortunately, most people have no connection to young leaders and no idea where to find them, or how to meet them.
If anyone is interested in this kind of work, volunteering with non-profits and political campaigns is the quickest way to meet young leaders - or become one. It’s a bit difficult for older people to move from being the top dog, to a support role, but if you keep your ego in check, you will find you are valued in ways you’ve never been valued before.
I’ve got civic awards coming out the kazoo, but hearing people say, that my cookies keep them coming back is the best reward ever. Oh, and when I babysit, it's activist training time. Kids love playing activists and organizers.
Several of you have asked me how I stay hopeful, and what are my coping strategies in stressful times like these. I rely on six.
1. Young people. My students (all 750 of them this semester) are mostly around 20 years old. My colleagues at Inequality Media are mostly in their late 20s. In other words, all are about a half-century younger than I am. Their energy, optimism, laughter, and hopefulness are hugely infectious.
2. Laughter. I try to find at least five things to laugh at each day (including myself). As I age, I find that the world is brimming with ironies, that the cosmos is deviously humorous, and that most of the people I know or read about are hilarious (whether they know it or not).
3. Activism. I not only stay active physically, but also try to help push my small corner of the world toward truth and social justice. The more I do, the better I feel. I love this Substack because it gives me an opportunity to share some thoughts and ideas with you, and hear your own thoughts and ideas.
4. Nature and personal time. I’m blessed to live in a beautiful place, with gorgeous flora and with mountains descending into glorious valleys and to the sea, along with easily accessible trails. Quiet walking through this fabulous environment puts me at ease.
5. Dance. There is nothing that lifts my spirits more quickly than clicking on a song by Paul Simon, the Doobie Brothers, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Buena Vista Social Club, or Dolly Parton – and dancing. My preference is to dance with someone, but I’m perfectly happy to dance alone in my kitchen.
6. History. Not only do I love to read it, but I learn a great deal from reading it – especially the truism that we’ve been here before. Lately I’ve been focusing my attention on the years between 1870 and 1916 – the first Gilded Age, followed by the Progressive Era. I’ve found many parallels between then and now, along with quite a bit that’s encouraging.
What I’ve left out and why:
Friends? I have them, and sometimes they contribute to one of the six-mentioned coping mechanisms above. But (and here again, probably age-related) I’ve found that too often our get-togethers descend into gripe sessions about the nation, the world, or personal health. Ugh.
Family? I love them dearly. But I don’t rely on them to buoy my spirits. That’s too much of a burden to place on them. And, of course, families are complicated in all sorts of ways.
Work? I’m trying to cut back on the parts of my work that don’t fit under the six-mentioned coping mechanisms, because they’re mostly meetings about processes or they’re paperwork or they require bureaucratic problems. I don’t really enjoy any of this, and I have less and less time for them.
Any of this helpful to you?
One of my biggest and most soothing coping mechanisms is listening to YOU, Prof Reich. I've followed you since I first saw Inequality for All. Just this week I'm rewatching the W&P class lectures, and this morning I read your brilliant essay on the Putin/Trump/Carlson common messaging... at the behest of and in service to corporate interests. Wow.
I happened to read your piece in the Guardian just after reading how ISIS targeted angry and frustrated young men to commit their violence, including the murder of James Foley and others. Sounds familiar.
I feel informed and galvanized, practicing my replies and questions to the many people around me with whom I disagree. I'm part of a letters-to-the-editor writing group in AZ - we are focusing a narrow sliver of voters who are persuadable. A calm and consistent stance is a great asset.
Thank you for all you do. Huge huge thanks.
focus on what I can control. Seeing every dollar that I spend as a vote for the kind of world I want to live in. Buy local. Buy organic. Buy used. Live simply. Put my money not towards stuff but towards people and planet. Put my energy into restoration of biodiversity in my yard and my neighborhood.
I try to help others and my community. I am a volunteer director of a community land trust. We purchase blighted properties to renovate and sell to first time home buyers at affordable rates. It is painful to see how people live in our city slums. The landlords are deployable. They are more greedy humans who wish to be as wealthy as those who are destroying this country. Only by helping one family at a time can I find hope. Frankly, I will only find optimism again when white color crime results in real punishment. When the bankers and accountants who caused me to lose savings for retirement in 2008 are in jail. Sorry, but instead of worrying that our democracy is threatened, we need to rewrite our constitution to form a better government than the one we have.
I read this newsletter, Letters From An American, Today’s Edition by Robert Hubbell. I also watch Trae Crowder on YouTube. He’s the Liberal Redneck. Lord, he makes me laugh! But I also take a long walk most days, and I am babysitting my baby granddaughter. At 3 months, she’s a delight. I hear her baby coos and see her fascinated by her fingers. The stupid stuff all the old people in Washington are doing fades into the background. I work in my yard and makes plans for flowers and veggies. I watch and listen to the birds, and I see the bees and other pollinators visiting the flowers. The natural world, even as threatened as it is, carries on with the business of life. I try to keep calm and carry on, kind of like the Queen does. Tearing one’s hair out over the mean, hateful things people are doing all over the place eventually just leaves one bald. I pray and I have a glass of wine occasionally.
It's a bit difficult in isolation - but "changing up" to a different gear: slowing down the tempo with some time spent in nature (e.g. sunshine) or, alternatively, some vigorous cardiovascular exercise. Also, maintaining a health breadth, e.g. activities like cooking & interests like art!
I stay hopeful by keeping to a regular routine of talking to longtime friends, daily exercises, lots of reading and music (classical and jazz, especially), signing petitions and writing comments on news stories (where permitted).
The routine above keeps me from declining into the enervating misery of despair and cynicism, which is exactly the trap that the enemies of democracy seek to instill.
After retiring 10 years ago I went back to teach. Preparing classes and finding ways to connect with students gives me a major lift. Volunteering at the food bank let’s me connect with other volunteers and with members of the community who are in need. Directing the zoom meetings of the San Francisco Economic Round Table, sponsoring a Canadian friend who is leaving for Poland and the Ukraine to be a bus driver for refugees and for rescuing animals. Helping my … (too personal). I think most everyone can make a contribution to the community even in small ways. It is rewarding and it helps me to cope. Not to forget exercising and walking to enjoy beautiful wonders of nature, working in the garden is also great and shows immediately results…..
I act rather than react. I practice mental mastery to focus on the here and now and do not rob myself of the present by thinking too much about the future. I read Heather Cox Richardson's Letter From An American every morning. I read what you write and listen to your videos. I am grateful to be in the company of truth tellers. The more truth we are exposed to, the more hopeful I feel our Democracy will survive. I play Pickleball everyday, most frequently outside in local parks. The games are full of laughter. Though officially retired, I spend several hours each week mentoring a few prison inmates as they prepare for the world outside of prison. I choose my thoughts carefully because experience has taught me that my thoughts mobilize my feelings. Thoughts may be the only thing I can control to keep myself in a state of hopefulness. Cheers!
I'm coping one day at a time! I have cut off cable and get most of my news from NPR, BBC America, and World News on PBS. I've stopped trying to change people's minds and have started listening to what they are saying...everyone is scared but not everyone is brainwashed! This leads us back to you and the information you continue to provide...thank you :)
I stay hopeful by helping others. For the past 18 months or so I have been cooking to support the healthcare workers at my local hospital, bringing them food 2 to 3 times a week. I feel an empathy for what they do, having retired from medical practice about 8 years. ago.
As Napoleon once remarked, "Une armée se déplace sur son ventre." (An army advances on its stomach). I can't care for the patients any longer but I can care for those who do...
For most of my adult life I've been prompted to "do something." Indeed, I became a licensed social worker and an activist. Now, I am quite ancient and sometimes anxious about our world and our country. I've been reading a lot about Eleanor Roosevelt and I also watched the PBS series about the Roosevelts. Here is what I learned: Eleanor began her humanitarian efforts on a very humble scale; she made coffee and sandwiches for the doughboys off to war. What she did was dig in and do the hard stuff, hours each day without grandiose aspirations of "fixing" the world. Decades later she was given a standing ovation at the opening of the United Nations. She was a founder and she was respected throughout the world for her tirelessness, commitment to peace and justice, and humbleness. Indeed, she was the impetus behind the many humanitarian bills that President Roosevelt passed to bring the nation out of the depression. That was a key for me. Just do something, do it well, do the dirty work. In other words, Chop Wood, Carry Water. Even small efforts add up. Oh, I also meditate to manage that anxiety!
A few jelly beans seem to help.
My best coping mechanism is to take daily walks and hikes with my dog. At least I know that somewhere in the world, unconditional love exists.
There is not much we can control in the world except our "attitude" and "choices" we make every single day. Attitudes can positively or negatively affect a person's behavior. A person may not always be aware of his or her attitude or the effect it is having on behavior. A person who has positive attitude (such as contentment, friendliness, etc.) can positively influence those around them. I try to influence those around me be it in person, on the internet, through social media or other applications. I understand both sides of most issues. There are always ways to find a compromise. I follow Dr. Elaine Kissel. She teaches about our subconscious talking to our conscious. Her book: "The Mind is Willing" is a must read. Plus I help people every day that need help with our home care company. Helping others is a great way to cope. We are all on this planet for a short time. As we age we must become role models for the next generation. What did Will Smith slapping Chris Rock teach our kids Sunday night? What did Chris Rock learn about making fun of others? Perhaps learning to cope in today's new world is a work in progress for us all.
If I did nothing but fret and worry and ruminate on all the problems, I'd be as depressed as a hound dog. Doing something keeps me up and optimistic and energized.
After 47 years of civic activism and organizing, I took stock of the future. In rural communities where I spent 35 years, activists in my network were all getting older. I was worried and sent out an email, asking hey, when we retire, do we plan on taking our experience, knowledge, skills and connections OUT of our networks along with us? We need to talk about this, because the 100 people I am emailing right now, have a collective 4,000 years of experience.
The response to that email was so inspiring, I won’t need inspiration for the rest of my life.
With few exceptions, we’ve moved into support, mentor, research and/or historian roles for young leaders. For example, I do everything from baking cookies, making coffee, running errands, proof-reading and babysitting, to consulting on non-profit development to writing explainers on laws and practices related to land-use and rural development.
Another retiree is building an archive of the movement she spent 47 years in as an attorney. Her archive work uncovered documentation in support of a case heard by the Supreme Court last year.
Without relationships, elected officials, politicians, and powerful business people will NOT take your call. By slowly and carefully transferring our relationship networks to young leaders, we helped short-circuit the time it would have taken them to build those relationships on their own.
Of course, you can’t do this work if you don’t know any young leaders. Unfortunately, most people have no connection to young leaders and no idea where to find them, or how to meet them.
If anyone is interested in this kind of work, volunteering with non-profits and political campaigns is the quickest way to meet young leaders - or become one. It’s a bit difficult for older people to move from being the top dog, to a support role, but if you keep your ego in check, you will find you are valued in ways you’ve never been valued before.
I’ve got civic awards coming out the kazoo, but hearing people say, that my cookies keep them coming back is the best reward ever. Oh, and when I babysit, it's activist training time. Kids love playing activists and organizers.