How To Be A Responsible Citizen During Hard Times
Weekly Meditation:
You may have noticed that I didn’t send a newsletter this week. I had notes written and sat down late Sunday evening to send out an update… But I couldn’t. I didn’t want to face my fear about the possible election results.
I wasn’t sure I would send you a note today. But in between meetings I stopped in my favorite coffee shop and started chatting with the barista. She’s a substitute teacher and she started breaking down into tears when we spoke about the election. She’s terrified of the precedent that this sets, and the tone of bullying that she is afraid her students will mimic.
I understand her fears and her sadness, truly. But when she regained her composure I locked eyes with her and told her:
Fuck that. You’re not powerless here. You can set the tone for your students and lead your classroom. This election is a wakeup call for every citizen in this country. It is up to each of us, as individual citizens, to stand up and lead. The world has seen leaders far worse than this take power, our republic will survive as long as we fight for it.
I think my response caught her off guard. She stared at me for a minute before smiling and saying “you’re right.”
America is not alone during these hard times. The UK is struggling with Brexit and France may be the next democracy to elect an isolationist. Regardless of which country you call home, it is time to hold up your responsibility as a citizen (of your nation and the world).
Stand up for what you believe in and get active. Look around and ask yourself what’s broken, what’s wrong, how can we improve? And then take action. Write your representative (take action on term limits, education, criminal justice reform, campaign finance, a balanced budget, discriminatory policing… really there are no shortages of issues to write about). Show up at local government hearings. Run for office. You have to fight for a better and bolder future. One that builds a compassionate and inclusionary society. If you don’t, who will?
“Nothing happens to the wise man against his expectations.”
— Seneca
Further Reading During This Election Cycle:
- Stoic Guide to Elections
- A Stoic Remedy for Election 2016
- It’s Going To Be Ok
- Individual Citizenship
- Resilience
- Compassion in the Midst of Madness
It’s going to be ok…
-Sean
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