How do we get through this? Together, that's how.

When a BSR email hits you on a day that isn’t Wednesday or Thursday (especially at this time of year), you can guess that we’re fundraising. And yes, we are, but we don’t want you to have to open your email just to see an ask. We want to have something for you, too.

The world is still beautiful. (Photo by Alaina Johns.)

So as BSR's editor, I thought I’d briefly open up about what I’ve been doing to keep sane(ish), meet my deadlines, and retain some sense of wellbeing as America’s right-wing hurricane, with all its cruel implications, intensifies.

Here are five things I’m doing.

Sticking to my own routine. I focus on what I can control in a panicky world. Honestly, having a pet has been a huge help in this regard. My dog needs her walks, her meals, her medicine, her bedtime. So do I, it turns out. We stick to our schedule. This outward stabilization helps to stabilize me inwardly, too.

Ginny doesn't care about politics. Be like Ginny, even if it's just for a few minutes. (Photo by Alaina Johns.)

Finding hyperlocal community involvement. Don’t forget: the politics that affect you most are in your own city. I joined a meeting this week with my neighbors and city councilmember about solving a specific local issue. Are there ways you can pitch in? Put something in your community fridge. Put books in your nearest Little Free Library. Does your library branch need volunteers? If you don’t know where to lend your time, ask your friends.

Carefully choosing what media I engage with. If something is causing you unmanageable stress or feelings of doom, it’s ok to step away. For me, that currently means very limited engagement with political journalism, and almost no social media. Especially given the nature of my job, I will get back to my news sources and socials eventually, but not before I’m feeling more resilient.

Making small things to look forward to. I really mean it. A homemade ice cream sundae. Reading in bed. Steamed mussels at home with a fresh baguette (feels fancy but it’s cheap). Tickets to that show I want to see. A visit to the bookstore. A day trip with friends. Your joys might be different. Don’t give them up.

Enjoying the Brandywine with friends. (Photo by Jimmy Chang.)

Focusing on my values, not the political circus. As I wrote after the election, our values at BSR aren’t based on electoral outcomes. If you believe in standing up for people who need it the most, are you going to stop now? Make that a huge hell no. As a woman with a disability, I will definitely need people who don’t share my challenges to stand up for me in the coming years. I likewise will advocate for other marginalized people, including immigrants and trans folks.

If you’re sticking to your routine, staying involved in your community, choosing your media carefully, finding small joys, and focusing on the value of our shared humanity, I can see why you opened this email from BSR. If I'm right, will you support us? A tiny percentage of our readers make the jump to donate, whether that’s a small one-time gift or becoming a Friend of BSR (starting at $5/month) or a Local Media Champion ($19/month in honor of our 19th year). Help us keep BSR running as local outlets like ours face an ever-steeper climb to stay in business. Donate here.

And if you want to get into the (Zoom) room with us, don’t forget that our latest webinar is coming up this Thursday night (November 21) at 6:30pm. It’s all about PR tips for indie artists and small cultural organizations. For our readers, this offers an interesting behind-the-scenes look at our coverage. Find out more and register here (there’s a pay-what-you-can option). This event is a fundraiser for BSR, so if you’ve been feeling moved to give and you want to join one of our events, you know what to do!

We’d love to hear what you’re doing lately to stay grounded, feel some joy, and make your community better. Thanks for being here with us.