Do 2 Things
Overwhelmed with the insanity? Do these 2 things.
I originally wrote this post last week. Then, on Friday and Saturday I attended the Decatur Book Festival. The DBF is a bastion of progressive values, presenting talks with authors like Saeed Jones, editor and author of The People’s Project, Jason Mott, author of People Like Us, and, my North Star, Stacey Abrams, author of Coded Justice.
One of my favorite moments occurred when Saeed Jones introduced his conversation with this: “This is the most fun you’ll ever have talking about Fascism.” And he was right! The conversation was uplifting and heartbreaking and renewing. We were reminded by the panelists, including two immigrants, that other countries have been through similar circumstances – without the resources we Americans can bring to bear to affect change.
I’ve written before about the importance of finding and living in community at this inflexion point (dumpster fire) in American History.
Community will save you.
Jones’ talk reminded me that I was surrounded by a community of people determined to push back against fascism and a morally corrupt government. The speakers and people I interacted with at the Festival helped me recharge my resistance batteries.
Another favorite moment occurred when Stacey Abrams shared her 10 Steps to Freedom & Power. Step 8 in her framework is to engage with our elected officials. Do 2 Things fits right into Step 8.
You know, what we really need is Energizer bunny resistance batteries. We’re tired. We’re exhausted. We’re all these things because we’re working hard to stay actively engaged in resistance to the insanity coming from our so-called government. It can feel hopeless which leaves us feeling helpless – and the cycle seems never ending.
Wait.
The entire point of the onslaught of lawlessness and unconscionable acts is to make us feel like there’s nothing we can do to stop it.
But there is. There are things we can do every day (or as close as we can get to every day) to push back and stop it.
But first, we need to combat our combat fatigue. What can we do to help us deal with the constant feeling that we should be doing something? That we can’t do enough? That we’re not making a difference?
Agency and Resistance
These times are so stressful because it’s absurdly hard to remember that we can use our personal agency to resist. Our agency comes from the knowledge and belief that we can impact the outcomes we seek. And, seriously, that can be so hard to feel right now.
When we find ourselves in situations where rules and the rule of law are ignored, subverted, and broken and we can’t impact the immediate situation, it feels like our agency has been stripped from us. It’s particularly true right now because the lawlessness is uncontrolled by traditional constraints, like, say, the law.
So, we’re left spiraling into moments were we feel helpless and despair of anything changing. And we fall into a state of ennui. It’s hard to think, to move, to even remember there are things we can do to resist.
Remember, that’s the strategy behind the authoritarian actions. Make us numb. Make us forget we have agency. Make us forget we can have an impact. Don’t succumb.
How do we choose?
When we commit to take action against the system, we’re overwhelmed with choices. We can’t find a place to start. We get even more stuck. We might even convince ourselves that one little action doesn’t matter. But it does. It matters because taking one little action takes back your agency.
Notice I keep saying “we.” That’s because the same thing has happened to me – a lot. I found (and find) myself frustrated, stuck, and unable to choose what to do next to exercise my own agency to resist the autocracy.
One day, I had an epiphany. I decided to take choosing out of the equation.
Instead, I decided to do the first two actions of resistance that show up in my emails, texts, or Signal chat. Since I live outside Atlanta, my emails, texts, and chats are full of opportunities to help Senator Jon Ossoff’s reelection campaign. They’re also full of requests to make calls to my representatives in Congress about the abominable legislation that’s out there right now.
Do 2 Things Strategy
If I get a notification from a text or chat asking me to make a call, I make the call. If not, I go to my email and pick the first 2 action requests and complete them. I might send $5 to a candidate or make a call to my Members of Congress. Alternatively, there might be a request from the organizations I support, like the National Bailout for Black Mamas and Caregivers or Helping Mamas, and I send them $5. Any donation to an organization that is actively combatting the vast wasteland of the patriarchy and autocracy is an act of resistance.
And, boom, I’ve done it! I’ve taken two actions without the stress of having to decide exactly what to do, renewing my sense of agency while simultaneously recharging my resistance batteries.
Speaking of.
As I was writing this post, I received a notification from one of my Signal chats reminding me to call my Members of Congress about making the tax credits for ACA premiums permanent. So, I stopped writing, picked up my phone and used the 5 Calls app to make the 3 calls. I live in a highly gerrymandered Congressional district, so I make lots of calls to my district’s Congressperson (it would chap his a** that I call him a Congressperson). Recently, I’ve been calling to remind them that rolling back the premium credits directly effects the Republican base – it’s not in the script, but I’m compelled to say it.
A brief plug for 5 Calls.
This app is the real secret to executing my strategy. It also gives me a streamlined way to take Step 8 in the 10 Steps to Freedom & Power, engage with our elected officials.
When I want to call my Members of Congress, I go into the 5 Calls app and choose the issue I want to discuss. 5 Calls provides a script for the call and the phone numbers for each person! I love that it removes the stress of figuring out what to say to whomever you end up speaking to. Game changer.
This is cool.
When you use 5 Calls, it serves up contact information for all three of your representatives in Congress – your Senators and your Congressperson – so you can easily make three calls. And, boom again! You’ve gone over and beyond your commitment to taking two actions!
For the record.
I don’t always do this every day. I strive to take action 2-3 days a week. Listen, if I only do two things once a week, it still recharges my batteries and builds my strength and determination.
PS: I chronically forget that writing my posts is an act of resistance.
Here’s the thing.
I firmly believe that, while there are little glimmers of light at the end of the seemingly never-ending tunnel, our world is going to stay fraught, infuriating, and frightening for a while longer (November 2026, anyone?).
We have one job as we push through this morass of misery we’re living in – to exercise our agency so we have the energy to keep resisting.
Try it. Jump on the first two things in your email, texts, or chats and do them. It’s critical that we show up for Democracy and strike another blow against fascism.
Never Settle,
Becky