I'm Trying

There are two kinds of people, broadly, in this situation. The Shameless will tell you what the holdup is, with absolutely no regard for if the reason is "good enough". This is actually very helpful, because you get the real reason immediately, and can start working on a solution.

The Ashamed is trickier. People who are Ashamed are people who were often told they were giving excuses when they were trying to explain, and they'll often avoid you until they solve the problem on their own. This causes them and you a lot of stress, and often takes a lot longer to solve.

Long term, the strategy for dealing with people who are Ashamed is to provide a supportive environment where they're comfortable sharing any problems they're having with getting things done. But, there's a way to at least partially short-circuit that:

Provide an explanation for them.

One example might be "Hey Susan, I noticed that I don't have your report yet. Are you busy with other projects?" The readymade explanation signals that you're willing to accept an explanation, which is the big anxiety point.

Sometimes, you still won't get an honest answer- especially if the honest answer isn't "good enough" by the standards of the person who traumatized them. But, I've found that it often at least gets you a lie that lets you give them some slack or work around the problem.

Let's say that Susan has actually completely forgotten that she needed to do the report. She's horrified at herself, and completely unwilling to admit the real problem. But, she can now safely reply with "Sorry Jennifer, I've been swamped, and it got lost in the mix. I can have it to you in two days. Does that work?"

From there, so long as Susan gave an estimate for when she can actually do it, she and Jennifer can hash out a solution.

The fire in your heart must keep you warm when the world is as cold as it is. I know it feels like we have all been knocked down, but I need you all to stand back up, to rise. Let that grief turn into a burning anger or love or whatever drives you. stand up and stand proud, and spit in the face of this world and tell it that if it wants you to just lay down and die, then you will fight as hard as you possibly can. That if it is to have it's victory over you, let it be a hard fought one till the end

Whether you find the strength to continue from your community, your faith, your family, your friends, your love, your hate, however you find it doesn't matter, what Matters is that you find this strength and continue to live on and live as best you can.

I understand that life feels scary and hopeless right now, but know that no matter what happens. There may be people who hate you and want you to suffer, but there are also people who love you and want you to live on and be happy. Maybe it's a lover, a friend, family, your community. But even if you think you have nobody, your wrong.

Because I love you, each and every one of you. And I hope that you all continue to live on and be happy and choose to live on despite the fears and dread. Know that there is always at least one person who loves you.

Never mention a possible pregnancy/abortion to anyone, especially not through a social media app messaging service such as messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram DMs, Snapchat, etc.

Delete all period tracking apps and to start tracking using a planner or physical calendar

Book appointments for a form of birth control if possible, or to always carry condoms for yourself and other

Look into sterilization options if that is the route you want to go down (here is a list of 1000 doctors willing to sterilize you without a fight)

Protect your fellow person, protect the women in your life, the queer people, the disabled people, everyone will be affected by this

First batch of pokemon stamps youll get to buy as stickers during Jtsoon Burning pumpkins in Tallin this nov 2-3rd!!!

* Kentucky overwhelmingly rejected an attempt to undermine the public education system by offering private school vouchers:

* Delaware has elected a transgender woman to the House of Representatives, the first out trans person of any gender ever elected to congress:

* For the first time in history, two Black women will be serving in the senate at the same time, and they are only the fourth and fifth Black women ever elected to the senate:

* New York State has passed a constitutional amendment enshrining the rights of pregnant people (including the right to an abortion), LGBTQIA+ people, the disabled, immigrants regardless of legal status, and other at-risk groups:

* Democrat Josh Stein has beaten self-avowed Nazi Mark Robinson to become governor of North Carolina:

That's everything I know off the top of my head. It's not many bright spots, but it's not zero. I'm going to try to find more and I'll add them to the post. It's the only thing I can think of to do that isn't sobbing and throwing up or looking up Canadian immigration rules.

* Colorado has passed amendment 79, guaranteeing the right to an abortion, with more than a 20 point spread between the Yes and No vote:

* Maryland Question 1, also focused on reproductive rights and abortion, has passed as well: https://www.cnn.com/election/2024/results/maryland/issue-1

* Likewise, Amendment 3 has passed in Missouri, overturning a near-total ban to add reproductive rights to the state constitution:

* Arizona Proposition 139 to protect abortion rights also passed:

Every glimmer helps.