Trump got elected. We all woke up today and realized that a year of fear mongering and bigoted speeches worked. American politics took a turn that I never thought possible. To everyone who finds their way here I say this: today is a sad day for the United States.
For possibly the first time in my life, it doesn’t feel like hyperbole to say that everything is the worst. I find myself wanting to cry and scream at the same time. Today is a day to process feelings and to take care of ourselves. We’ve got a hell of a four-year Presidential run coming at us, but today we need to be mindful of ourselves first.
Let me try and paint you a better picture of my feelings today. I want to sob under my blankets and I want to burn down buildings. I want to protest the results and I want to flee the country. I am overwhelmed by the cold truth that racism and sexism are flourishing in my country.
Suffice it to say that everything is the worst. And when everything is the worst, self-care becomes the most important thing on the to-do list.
So today I will eat some ice cream. I will go for a walk. I will snuggle under my blankets. I will make friends homemade cards. I will light scented candles. I will be gentle with myself in every way I can.
I encourage you to do the same. Do many things that make you happy. Stay inside your comfort zone. Tune out voices that carry hate or anger in them. Turn towards your bliss.
Because tomorrow it’s time to push back. Tomorrow we rise from our blankets, we blow out our candles, and we go back to work. Tomorrow we use our voices and our personal power to try and make the worst situation just a little bit better.
And we continue to do it the day after tomorrow, and the day after. It’s ok to acknowledge the pain today. It’s ok to tap out of the fight today. It’s ok to watch all the New Girl and eat all the cookies. Build yourself back up, because we need you. I need you.
I don’t want to live in a world where everything is the worst. I don’t want every day to be like today. I want to change things, and I do that by getting back in the ring.
When you’re done, and ready to leave the blankets, check out these articles to get you back on your feet.
The Financial Impact of Kindness
Money Isn’t The Goal
The Privilege I Have Despite Being Broke
Kara Perez is the original founder of From Frugal To Free. She is a money expert, speaker and founder of Bravely Go, a feminist financial education company. Her work has been featured on NPR, Business Insider, Forbes, and Elite Daily.