For me the past 6 months have felt like some of the most stressful of my entire life. Watching the country of your birth systematically destroyed by greedy rich people who are only interested in their own personal gain, is not an easy thing to witness. Every day has felt like a month and each month has felt like a year. But over time, I have found some ways to help me cope and some ways in which I can use my power to fight back. If you’re looking for ways that you can fight against tyranny, then this post is for you.

1. Discover your unique agitation: I remember the first time I ever heard about human trafficking and the horrific ways in which human beings are exploited for monetary gain. I immediately knew that I wanted to find ways to fight against human trafficking and I also wanted to make sure that everyone around me knew. This was a unique agitation for me. For others it might be prison reform, or immigration reform, or education, or animal rights, but whatever it is, find it. We were not put on this earth to pay bills and be comfortable, we were placed here to make the world a better place. How are you doing that?
2. Utilize your gifts: Every single one of us has giftings and abilities that are unique to us. Maybe you a talented speaker, or artist, or you’re an administrative wizard. Whatever it is, use your gifts in conjunction with your unique agitation to fight back against the powers that be.  Volunteer in your community or start your own community organization.  Post on social media. March. Protest. Boycott racist organizations. Support local business. Donate extra food or clothing. Donate money. Donate your time. Find ways to help those in your community who might be struggling.
3. Limit social media and media in general: I have drastically decreased the amount of time I spend on social media. I’ve stopped using TikTok after the false threat of shutting down the app was executed, and I have cut down the amount of time I spend on Instagram. Every time I open the app the news is worse and worse, and I found myself becoming increasingly anxious and depressed.  Instead of mindlessly scrolling, I will read or listen to music or do a word search or puzzle. These activities help to stimulate my mind and provide a sense of calm.
4. Be informed and learn your history:  Find a trusted news source and either read or watch for today’s headlines and then move on. One of the tactics of the Trump administration is to overwhelm us with news headlines. This is partly why so many executive orders were issued in the beginning because it is impossible to keep up with the barrage of news headlines and they are hoping that everyone will become so overwhelmed that they check out. But you cannot check out. To fight, you must know what you are fighting against. I would recommend checking out the BBC or the Guardian for unbiased journalism.
5. Document everything:  One of the hallmarks of President Trump’s first administration was the growth of “fake news” and “alternative facts.” This administration will tell you anything and hope that you will believe it. For there to be proof of what is happening and what has happened, we must become modern day historians and record everything. Snap photos, write the news down in your journal, keep a spreadsheet, create art, no matter what you do, we must find ways to preserve everything for posterity. Go to museums, go to libraries, go to archives, we must be the historians that we need.
6. Rest in community: No one can fight all the time. It’s not sustainable and it’s also not healthy. This is why we need community. So, when some of us who have been on the frontlines need to rest, we can tap in other community members, and they can pick up the mantle until it is time for them to rest. Community is going to be what saves us in the end.
7. Prepare for the worst: I am not trying to scare anyone or would consider myself to be a doomsday planner but having learned history I can see the signs that are in front of me.  We talk a lot about the heinousness of Nazi Germany and Adolf Hitler, but I wonder how many people know that he was elected to office by the German people. It took about a year, for their rights to be stripped from them until eventually they had no more rights left to strip.  I would encourage you to start collecting items such as food, batteries, candles, etc to prepare for the worst which would be the country falling into civil war and/or the President declaring martial law to give him more control and squash any uprisings.  Take out some cash and have it on hand and know where your most important documents are and keep them close in case of any emergencies.

I will not sugarcoat what is happening in America. We are on the brink of our democracy collapsing. When a leader blatantly says that he wants to remain in power past his term limits, what you are looking at is not a leader but a dictator. When the President of your country says that he does not need to uphold the Constitution, you are not looking at a President, but someone who wants to rule absolutely.  When families and children are being kidnapped in broad daylight, make no mistake that they will come for you next. When a braindead woman is forced to carry her child to term, because a state has removed the family’s ability to let their loved one die in peace, make no mistake that we are living in fictional times.  But this does not need to be the end of America’s story. We can fight back if we choose.