As President Trump dropped executive orders at an alarming rate, I celebrated my life.
On January 24th, I took time to sit with myself and reflect on the past year. I read messages and took phone calls from friends new and old on my phone. I’ve traded bottles and blaring speakers for DayQuil and napkins after recent spats with the flu that passed through our family. Then, I enjoyed our quiet breakfast, ignoring the TV and the constant buzzing from this and that news for a respite.
This feels asymmetrical to the doom and gloom I would lead this writing with in times like these. However, I’ve learned a lot over the last two decades, it’s that “shock and awe” tactics are a multipronged approach to get people to stop fighting back. We need to get clear, see beyond the tactics, and point towards the bigger vision. That is to say, we can do better.
As a veteran educator turned sociologist, I find it important to say that humanity has been here before. Even in the last twenty years, uncertainty reigned at critical periods and sometimes, only the worst solutions seemed to win the day. Lessons from ancestors living and passed on can teach us to hold joy amid the tyranny. Here are some notes I’ve picked up through my journey:
1. Build your intuition. Intuition is the nexus between intellect and experiences. These days, it feels like we’re getting a lot of noise and not enough clarity about what we need to listen to and what we’re listening for. Some of the most remarkable folks we know synthesize big ideas and engage deeply with what’s in front of them. It starts with intuition. It’s true that what we commonly refer to as intuition is a “gut feeling.” However, the folks with stronger “guts” are also those who’ve had experience and got better at learning over time.
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