Without Rain the Flowers Wouldn’t Grow

I have been asked several times over the last month or so, “What can I do?”  I suppose it is a question we have all been asking ourselves and each other.  I always feel a little bit awkward and self-conscious when asked.  I don’t have a clue.  I grew up in a small town in New Hampshire, I sing silly songs to my puppy, I can’t decide what I want for my next tattoo, my girls have me wrapped around their little fingers, I can’t figure out how to close my glass door to the balcony, and I am pretty sure that I drink too much beer.  I’m not the guy to go to for advice. 

So, far, whenever asked, I find myself giving different answers.  That’s what Geminis do.  And isn’t it sad that I don’t even have to explain the reference to the question.  None of you are wondering at this point, what can we do about what?  It is painfully obvious.

Honestly, I think my favorite answer so far, that I shared with someone I care about, was to go plant a flower.  It seems as meaningful as anything else.  I heard a Perry Como song when I was about ten-years old called, Everybody is Looking for an Answer,  The chorus took it a step further, “Everybody is lookin’ for the sunrise. Peace of mind is surely hard to find.”

I am no better equipped to find it than anyone else.  One of the voices in my head also reminded me how much I liked the Late Show with David Letterman, especially his Top Ten List.

So, I reached out to Dave, and he helped me put this together.  We hope this helps someone, somewhere at some time, to at least find a little peace of mind, if not answers.  Paul Shaffer, give us a drum roll so we can count them down….

10.  Speak up.  There are so many ways to do this.  On a broad scale there are podcasts, blogs, and social media videos.  But it also doesn’t have to be that fancy or complicated.  Speak up when you see someone being treated poorly.  Speak up and let others know they are not alone in what they are feeling.  Open the window and scream, “I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore.” 

9.  Show up.  Even in my small town there have been frequent protests.  If you have never participated in one, this may be your time.  Again, there are always simpler options.  For the federal government workers simply showing up to work has become an act of courage and determination.  Show up for your friends and family.

8.  Write.  Write Congress.  Email Musk until servers crash.  Start a write-in campaign.  Write corporations asking them to fight the tariffs.  Write a letter of recommendation for a friend who lost their job. 

7. Boycott/Patron. Boycott anything sold by the billionaires and the corporations who have eliminated all efforts to support diversity, equity, and inclusion (Target, Walmart, McDonalds and more).  Patronize the ones who have reaffirmed their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (Costco, Giant, Trader Joes, Ralph Lauren, and more).  And if you have a MAGA FB friend who posts a lot of garbage, feel free to boycott and delete then too if that will help your peace of mind.

6. Vote.  Not just for President and members of Congress, but also for all state and local elections.  Elect the right judges and sheriffs where applicable.  Vote at town halls and school board meetings.  Vote your conscience and sleep better. 

5. Resist.  Civil resistance is a general way for people to fight for their rights without breaking the law or using violence.  A few of these I have already listed, but there are so many more ways.   I came across 198 Methods of Nonviolent Action by Gene Sharp.  It is an amazingly good list and worth clicking on the link for new ideas.  And here are 12 Things You Can Do to Resist Trump and Defend Democracy – that were shared during his first term.

4.  Civil Disobedience.   Civil disobedience is the intentional failure to obey laws as a form of political protest. If you choose this route, do not go into it lightly or blindly.  Focus on violating laws that are unjust.  I have heard chatter about some people choosing not to pay federal taxes to a fascist government.  People who engage in civil disobedience typically respect the rule of law and must be willing to accept the legal consequences of their actions.  You would be in good company.  Rosa Parks.  Martin Luther King Jr., Henry David Thoreau. This morning, I re-read Thoreau’s 18-page paper on Civil Disobedience.  If you are looking for inspiration, he provides.

3. Volunteer. You can certainly volunteer to canvas and campaign politically.  But almost any kind of volunteering will add to the common good.  I volunteer two days a week at the local food cupboard.  I leave there each time feeling better than when I walked in.  It is always a good thing to help other people.  When their government is failing them, it is a great and essential thing..

2.  Lead by Example.  Supervisors, coaches, teachers, parents, so many people do this every day. Live the Golden Rule.  Make kindness the next pandemic.  We can’t control others.  But we can control the person in the mirror.

1.   Do Good on the Planet. I think everything I have listed thus far are valid examples of doing good on the planet.  But there are thousands more examples.  Ralph Waldo Emerson has been credited as defining “Success” in the following way.  I would borrow these same words to define doing good on the planet.

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate the beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch Or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.”

In the end, we can try to remember that without rain the flowers wouldn’t grow, without pain the joy in life won’t show.

But first, we must plant the flower.