It Counts as Resistance

You are walking around in your chest with this feeling: I should be doing something. But when you make a list of all the things you did this month so far, you’ll see:

You listened to a coworker in the hall talk about feeling lost and worried.

You decided not to give Amazon your money this week, and that is resistance.

You called Target to express your disgust: resistance.

You joined the zoom call of 20,000 other people on a Monday night.

You went to the community meeting.

You took a screenshot of that nonprofit.

You collected a flyer.

You signed up for that email list.

You forwarded the email newsletter that helped you feel focused and brave.

You read the long article about executive power.

You called your senator, fumbling with a long list of things you know are wrong.

You did it, and you’ll do it again.

You texted the friend with the trans daughter and asked how you could help.

You reached out to a friend whose husband is in trouble.

You put the web link on a list to look at later.

You’ve been sending people money from your phone, giving monthly, so much

you probably don’t even remember or give yourself credit for it.

You talked to three friends about things they should read.

You didn’t assume you know the answers.

You are waiting for a movement that looks like America.

You put on the podcast while washing dishes and cried afterward.

You helped your sister carry this massive grief and uncertainty.

You do something every day that is resistance.

They have told you, your whole life, that you’re not doing enough.

They make you do it all while they take your retirement and your paycheck and your health and threaten your family.

They spread their incompetence and arrogance like slime.

They tell you to do more and add a baby to your hip.

They call you names, make you feel like this is not your place, your country.

They have made you feel smaller, feel fear.

They have broken the supports we need to survive.

They ignorantly meddle in things they cannot comprehend for the rush of power.

They think it’s all theirs.

They think they have a right to everything.

They want to control time.

They don’t fucking know.a thing, and

They will lose, and we will take them down, because there are more of us.