For years*, both as a domestic violence advocate in multiple victim services agencies and on my own as a trauma trainer and support group leader, I have been saying this: you are the expert on yourself. That is still true. That will always be true.
The US government does not trust you but I do. You know yourself and what you need best. And nothing that happens in the outside world can change that. What is constantly changing, and getting slipperier to grip, is access. So yes, revolt by organizing and helping causes that feel important to you whether they are political or reproductive rights based, but do something else too: trust that you know yourself best.
Start to remember that and act on it with increasing urgency. It's never been more important to advocate for ourselves in ways that we may not have or been reluctant to do before. No, that doesn't mean a broken system changes. But individual changes are also important. (Also: we cannot fix broken systems by ourselves.) When I feel strong enough to put myself and my needs first, to say "no" to something that doesn't serve me, to set a boundary with a boss, I am causing a ripple affect because others notice.
You can trust yourself even if others do not trust you. And that's something that can never be taken away from you.
And if you are someone who has been silent here since Friday’s decision, I get it. The past few days (years really) have been a lot. Pounds and pounds of extra worry and weight to carry in addition to everything else you manage, care for and care about. And still: we need your voice too. No matter what you say or how few your words (remember #metoo?) please consider sharing your thoughts with us. It's really important that when I look around, I can identify people with whom I share values. That connection helps build and maintain relationships, right? Thanks.