the thing we keep forgetting (itty bitty thoughts)

So many people are content to just wait.
To sit in the corner
until all of this
(waves hands wildly at all that is 2020)
blows over.

But
I offer this to you:

What
if it
doesn’t?
What if all of this
doesn’t blow over in 4 weeks?
4 months?
4 years?
What if things are
just
different
now?

We have forgotten that while we are freaking out about a
second round of hoarding toilet paper
or how much we do or don’t care about
the dumpster fire of an election
that this is actually real life
and it continues on
and we’re not in some revolutionary, apocalyptic movie
with cool guns and big muscles
and tough lookin’ guys and gals
reciting powerful lines at The Powers That Be.
We’re just people at the store waiting in long lines
to pay for groceries because
there aren’t enough cashiers to work anymore.
We’re just people that go back home and realize there is
so
much
other
stuff
to
get
done
outside of marinating in
WhaT sOMEbodY saId oN a sCreEN.

We have forgotten that we don’t know when
The End is coming.
We’ve forgotten that we’re supposed to
live until it comes.
And this isn’t a veiled effort to convince everyone
to fight for extended family gatherings
to be allowed for Thanksgiving/Christmas.
Because seriously,
some people who are the loudest
about not being able to get together
with their extended family this year
are the same people who complained endlessly
about having to do it last year.
Just sayin’.

We’ve forgotten the point
that while we’re holding out
and holding our breath
and hanging on
and waiting for different
or change
or revolution
or whatever it is you think is
on the other side of this,
life is still happening.

Life happens regardless of being caught up in politics
or losing your ish about who is or isn’t wearing a mask.
Life happens until you are hit head-on
or choke on a piece of steak
or fall from a great height
or one of a million other things
but in order for life to stop
your heart has to
STOP BEATING
and if you’re reading this
THAT
HAS
NOT
HAPPENED
YET.

I’ve pulled myself out of the corner
out of a hole
and I’m going to make some flat out ridiculous goals and plans.
RIDICULOUS GOALS.
RIDICULOUS PLANS.
Because seriously, why not?
Why effin’ not?
What’s the alternative?

At this point,
a person can be angry and upset at the world
Or a person can take that anger and put it towards
something that makes life better for themselves
and the people they love.

MAKE RIDICULOUS GOALS.
GET EXCITED ABOUT SOMETHING
THAT YOU CAN DO.

Don’t worry about the plans or goals changing.
Don’t wimp out because
something in the world might change
and you might have to tweak your plans and goals.
You guys, the world is ALWAYS changing.
Plans and goals ALWAYS have to be tweaked.
If someone told you that’s not the way it works,
they
lied
to
you.

Anger and frustration has a way of becoming an excuse.
A validation for not moving forward.
A way to get tied up in tasks or visions
that don’t move the needle for you or anyone else.

Tough times have a way of painting us into a corner
where we don’t want to move
because what’s the point?
I don’t know what’s coming next
Why should I bother?
Why should I care?
Why should I do anything?

You guys, listen to me.
We have never
ever
EVER
known what’s coming next.

But you know what?
I can hear your heart is still beating.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.

So.

What are you going to do?

— Amy Dingmann 11/22/20

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