Breathe

This week it's all about self-care

Lower your shoulders a few inches. Untie just one of the knots in your stomach.

This week is their week. It’s the Republican National Convention, and they’re going to make the most of it. All we can do is deplore political violence, grit our teeth, and wait it out.

This week I suggest taking a news moratorium. You’ve earned it. This is a marathon, remind yourself, not a sprint. Walk the dog, go to the beach, eat some ice cream, and avoid the news. We need to get in shape. There’s a busy summer and fall ahead with a lot of work to do. It’s still months before the election.

My suggestion for the next few weeks is to zoom in local. Take the laser focus off Biden-Trump, and look to the races for the winnable districts in the House of Representatives.

The progressive organization Invisible has identified the districts where it’s most worth putting your efforts. Much as I’d love to dislodge Matt Gaetz or Marjorie Taylor Greene, these are the place to focus. That’s where you should mail your postcards, try phone banking, or consider donating. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t seem to matter if an unknown small-time local guy named Josh Riley beats Marc Molinaro in NY-19. But one win in the House or the Senate could make all the difference.

If (fingers crossed) Biden wins, imagine what it would be like if both House and Senate had a Republican majority.

And if (may all the gods forfend) Trump wins, a blue House of Representatives could hold him in check and help to allay some part of the unimaginable damage he’d wreak.

One little race in NY-17 or NJ-07 or CA-45 could turn everything around. It’s worth our attention.

And don’t forget to breathe.

Are any of these near you? Here are the candidates who are our (as Indivisible calls them) Unrepresentatives:

David Schweikert, AZ-01

Michelle Steel, CA-45

Mike Lawler, NY-17

Juan Ciscomani, AZ-06

Don Bacon, NE-02

Mark Molinaro, NY-19

John Duarte, CA-13

Tom Kean, NJ-07

Brandon Williams, NY-22

David Valadao, CA-22

Nick LaLota, NY-01

Lori Chavez-De Remer, OR-05

Mike Garcia, CA-27

Brian Fitzpatrick, PA-01

Young Kim, CA-40

Anthony D’Esposito, NY-04

Jen Kiggans, VA-02

Dear Friends,

Are you worried about the election of 2024 and wondering what to do about it? I hope you’ll continue to check out The Optimistic Activist.

Every week I post some ideas for doing something. How to get out the vote, spread the word, and support progressive candidates. Ideas for simple but effective activism. As easy, as practical, as do-able as I can make them.

Together, I think, we could really make a difference.

                “Optimism is a strategy for making a better future.”

                                                --Noam Chomsky