Look For The Helpers

Karen Levine Egee, Ph.D.

Sometimes people working deep in this resistance movement hit bottom, feel fascism is winning, feel it is a hopeless fight. This happens even in people who usually are very optimistic, empowered, energized and playing leadership roles. Our own fearless leader, Rachel Flehinger, hit bottom just this week, writing this message:

Hi all!! As the world continues to get more tense and scary, my energy shifted. I felt dejected and burnt out. Honestly, I just came out of a few days of being ready to give this project over. I looked at the events being submitted dwindle and I worried. I spent some time considering what’s happening and I realized: This is NORMAL. Frustration, hopelessness, exhaustion…”

At these times the feelings can be overwhelming. It can also feel like one is completely alone in it; alone in fighting the incoming tide of fascism, and also alone in being so discouraged. It is easy to hunker down and do something counterproductive in those moments, or just give up the fight altogether.

But then Rachel did what is so hard to remember to do in these moments, and what Mr. Rogers perhaps said best:

“Then I remembered, look for the helpers, our community and our connections. Simply holding space with each other and reach out when you need it is what will maintain and even grow our movement. It will keep our pilot light aflame. So, rather than struggle alone, I asked for help.  I asked Jarrod Dumas, who has been doing such wonderful Youtube videos, if he could help me so I could get some space and perspective-six months without a single day off? It’s time. The fact that he answered “Just tell me what you need.” reinforced the answer to winning. Us.  I felt alone and I forgot to look for the helpers. They are everywhere. Soon we will be providing some ideas to grow your hyperlocal communities.  It might ask some bravery to go into unfamiliar territory or walk into rooms of strangers but this fight, it’s the bravery that will win.  We will win. Together.”

Yes indeed! So when any of us have those moments, when we feel overwhelmed, feel sure we will lose democracy, feel cruelty and lawlessness will win out, look for the helpers! Look for who is there to listen, to reenergize you, to refill you with hope. Remember, as Joyce Vance ends each of her Civil Discourse Substack entries with: "We are  in this together". And as Rachel said, “We will win. Together.”