In my reflections on the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, I’ve been thinking about what sustainable activism means to me and what it takes to create true change. I’ve realized that the first step is to get really honest about what my country is and what it isn't. I’ve needed to adjust and let go of the idealized version of the US that I had in my head.

Another part of creating real change is to regulate the nervous system. People in power are leveraging our dysregulated nervous systems to get us to show up on election day the way they want us to, donate our money, and get complacent. A major part of regulating the nervous system involves leaning into conversations that are challenging, even triggering, and staying in that complexity with people we love, unpacking ideas together, and holding each other accountable.

Opting into long change requires more work than bickering with keyboard warriors on social media threads, but you have a greater impact in these nuanced, civil discussions. I'm more interested in efficacy and creating a world where women, children, people of color, indigenous, and LGBTQIA+ identifying folks are safer. I’m not perfect, but I’m dedicated to figuring out how to show up for those communities, rather than collapsing into this self-righteous desire to be angry and eventually burn out.

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