Adjusting Expectations

I scrapped my entire spring race calendar.

It was an easy decision because our priorities have changed. An opporunity to move to a larger, nicer house came out of nowhere. It places us closer to friends and family, closer to a community that we can support and be supported by.

So weighing all the work that has to happen around a move—packing, preparing the new house, moving animals and livestock, and even a zoning hearing for a special use permit—I would be a terrible partner if I also insisted on 8-10 hours a week of training as well as setting aside two entire weekends for the events.

Priorities changed, a new situation arose, and I had to adjust expectations. It’s part of being an adult.

But it didn’t happen overnight. I wasn’t thinking about this when I signed up for the races, even though I knew we’d be moving shortly thereafter. No, I think there’s a moment when the reality sets in and you start weighing it all out.

I want to believe this is what’s happening in the U.S. right now. People who have been aware of the dangers of Trump have been preaching it for years. There’ve been warnings. But it didn’t sink in for many Americans. (Yeah, predominantly White America. Black Americans and other minorities have always known this.)

So here we are, facing a situation some of us expected, though the raw speed and extent is shocking to everyone. The expectation that everyone sees what’s going on and immaediately switches into protest mode is absurd and naive. We’re out of shape for that.

There are signs people are getting with it. My local, rural Indvisible group grows by one or two people every day. Little protests are happening everywhere. Indie booksellers in the South are seeing steady sales of resistance books People are adjusting their expectation of what the future holds, figuring out what they need to do. It’s the heart attack survivor taking up jogging—maybe should’ve done it ten years ago but better than never.

They’re gearing up, flexing atrophied muscles, getting out the door for a slow jog, with that drems of a marathon in mind. We shouldn’t shame them for just now walking a Turkey Trot. They’re doing something. As they’re joining us, we need to adjust our expectations, welcome them to the fight, help them realize their abilities. Some of them might just stick around after this is all over.

#globalcowpie# #writing #trumpism