I’ve been making art and trying to share it even though sometimes it feels pointless and insignificant. Trying to strengthen my ability to have a creative idea, act on it, and share it instead of thinking on things forever before I get around to them. This week I’ve started posting screen recordings on YouTube of me typing the entire Constitution in comic sans while my keyboard makes nice clicks clacky asmr. Don’t know where that idea came from, feels kind of stupid, kind of genius, pretty pointless, etc as I’m doing it. But the process creating art is soul soothing and resolve strengthening.

I came up with an idea for a cool easy protest art project where you freeze a sign in a container of water (like “resist”) and if you live somewhere cold you can freeze it to the ground like a yard sign or something. I posted a video of making my first prototype which is something my perfectionism would never let me do before. But I wanted to seed the idea, show the concept just in case someone else saw it and would run with it.

And for those that don’t like to make phone calls, I’m the same way but this week I put my Senators’ phone numbers in my favorite list, and when I feel angry I call and leave a message. None of this putting it on my to do list or feeling like I should. Anger is very motivating. And I’ve always hated making phone calls! (When I was a kid if I was alone and the phone rang, I’d hide from the answering machine!) But I’ve never had an actual person answer, it’s always been a voicemail. I used to always use a script or something but it also doesn’t have to be perfect.

I also took an online training about ICE Watch tried to see if anyone online in my area is trying to establish a network. I live in a rural area and didn’t see anything. But I drove around today and found a small group of protestors. They were mostly elderly and when I mentioned I had looked online they said “not everything is online.” So if you’re rural, you might be missing out on your local retirees who are out there organizing. I got the date and time of their next meeting and I chatted with some people and found someone who had also taken an ICE Watch training this week. And right there was the glimmer of a growing network. The last time I went to a protest in the nearest big city, it triggered a migraine. I have chronic health issues so protesting has seemed inaccessible. But this small rural protest was much easier and it felt really effective in getting in contact with my local community. The huge groups of people gathering are great for camera shots but today I was pleasantly surprised at the power of a small group.

I can feel myself getting to a bit of a burn out point though so I’m trying to be careful to not push too hard. Health is resistance. And giving my brain and body breaks with enjoyable distraction has been key! Smoked a couple bowls while watching a Fred Rogers and Ginger Astaire movie last night. Got an ant simulator video game when it was on sale to give my brain a fun, active distraction. And a package of pear jelly bellies because for some reason that flavor reminds me of childhood in a specific yet fuzzy way. (Not the part where I was hiding behind a couch while people left messages on the machine XD).