Holy crap, this is not only the best “my anxiety” post ever (which I’ll say, isn’t a terribly high bar, because most of these are excruciating), but it may be the best “election lament/how do we carry on” essay I’ve read yet (and oh, there are a lot of them!). Nice job Carlos.
Loved this one Carlos. I feel like I got to know you better through this!
Good point about how if the joke was shifted to Hawaii, it would've been a much harder joke to sell but a lot easier to go after those "other" people. Nice job Trent!
I went to Puerto Rico for my honeymoon and it was stellar. Also took a small plane to Culebra and it was one of the nicest beaches I'd ever been to.
Keep on, I'm bracing for the next 4 years as well.
Brilliant! 🙏🏽🙌🏽💗 So much better than my post about Joy as the antidote to fear, and how I learned this from the black folks I sang gospel with after 9/11! I’m still singing daily, and I will not stop. (Unless this half-empty glass of a nation deploys secret police to come bind my mouth with duct tape.)
Aww 🥰 Thank you so much, Carlos! I’m honored. Last week our local community danced our grief and hope outside in the pouring rain to a banging playlist 🌧️ Wet, Cold, and Joyful!
"...he'll see a glass half-empty and go, “How long has that half-empty glass been sitting out? You’re not still drinking out of that glass, are you? Someone might have slipped something into it. Dateline did a whole episode on that — it’s way more common than you think.'"
I read this to my pessimistic mother who laughed and said, "That's not me!!" (it is) and then after a dramatic pause: "I bet his dad has seen some shit." Ha!! Thank you for sharing your joy and hope. And for writing the most hilariously apt description of my own mother. Nailed it.
Thanks for this wonderful essay! Your words convinced me to become a paid subscriber:-) (A cheap one--have to save some money to cope with the coming inflation and food shortages resulting from tariffs and mass deportations, as well as the disruption from the coming epidemic of communicable disease as RFK forces all the states to let all the school kids opt out of shots--Like you, I also have anxiety and and active imagination LOL!). But you're right to find joy where we can; the people coming into power want those of us who think differently to despair and give up. Finding moments of joy in the face of darkness is not only good for one's mental health, but is also an act of rebellion, by taking control of those precious parts of you they cannot control, and is the first step to fighting against injustice and autocracy.
Sorry this is so preachy. I guess that's where I am today...
Had to laugh as I read this one, Carlos - Having had your dad pouring me half-empty glasses for over 35 years has left an indelible mark on me! And yes, despair about the results from last week's election is not restricted to clinical pessimists, as there hardly is a positive angle to any of this; this is where history comes to our aid, time and again showing us that smug assholes eventually get their due, as will be the case of this circus (would love to be a fly on the wall when the curry jokes begin making the rounds of the West Wing, let's see how Madame Vance takes them). Anyway, what was I talking about? Oh yes! Great piece! And keep hope alive, y'all! It is one of the few things in life that remains free!!!
Glad you enjoyed this one! You have the first hand experience with my dad to attest to my description, haha. And to your point, I do think more than a few chickens will be coming to roost in the next couple years.
OH. WOW. What a beautiful piece of writing, Carlos. Thank you for sharing it with us Substackers, writers, and I would guess, fellow members of The Resistance. I absolutely loved every second of reading this. Because I was doing many of the same exact things at that same exact time. Except being in Puerto Rico officiating a wedding. I wasn't doing that but I sure wish I WAS, cuz, DANCING IN THE RAIN! Loved that ending and that joyful image. Keep your joy; we'll follow along, no worries there!
Thank you for this! "Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m just going to sit back and accept whatever else happens. I believe it’s possible to fight the power joyfully. In fact, it’s probably the only way to fight the power." -- 🙌
Carlos, this is such a fabulously written piece! Thank you so much for sharing both your anxious struggles and your joyous insights & inspirations! As well as sharing a bit of your wonderful dad with us :-)
I will be re-reading this when (despite my best efforts) I fall into the inevitable roller coaster ride of anxious catastrophizing, soul-aching sadness, anger, fatalism, numbness, et al; so that I can exit that ugly tunnel into the sunshine of JOY that you so have so beautifully expressed here!
I think this issue is great regardless of political alignment. In fact, it's great because it's honest. And most of all it's nice to appreciate it from a person (like me) who didn't actually vote in this election. Because it also portrays what you don't see: the real way people feel, perceive and relate to what's happening. Thanks for sharing.
Holy crap, this is not only the best “my anxiety” post ever (which I’ll say, isn’t a terribly high bar, because most of these are excruciating), but it may be the best “election lament/how do we carry on” essay I’ve read yet (and oh, there are a lot of them!). Nice job Carlos.
Thanks so much, Tom!
Loved this one Carlos. I feel like I got to know you better through this!
Good point about how if the joke was shifted to Hawaii, it would've been a much harder joke to sell but a lot easier to go after those "other" people. Nice job Trent!
I went to Puerto Rico for my honeymoon and it was stellar. Also took a small plane to Culebra and it was one of the nicest beaches I'd ever been to.
Keep on, I'm bracing for the next 4 years as well.
Thanks, Istiaq! And I’m glad you had a great time in PR! It really is so beautiful.
Brilliant! 🙏🏽🙌🏽💗 So much better than my post about Joy as the antidote to fear, and how I learned this from the black folks I sang gospel with after 9/11! I’m still singing daily, and I will not stop. (Unless this half-empty glass of a nation deploys secret police to come bind my mouth with duct tape.)
I read your piece Christine — what a beautiful story! I’m glad you’re still singing, please don’t ever stop
Aww 🥰 Thank you so much, Carlos! I’m honored. Last week our local community danced our grief and hope outside in the pouring rain to a banging playlist 🌧️ Wet, Cold, and Joyful!
If they bind your mouth with duct tape, you can still hum…
Yessss 🙌🏽
Yes! Love this
"...he'll see a glass half-empty and go, “How long has that half-empty glass been sitting out? You’re not still drinking out of that glass, are you? Someone might have slipped something into it. Dateline did a whole episode on that — it’s way more common than you think.'"
I read this to my pessimistic mother who laughed and said, "That's not me!!" (it is) and then after a dramatic pause: "I bet his dad has seen some shit." Ha!! Thank you for sharing your joy and hope. And for writing the most hilariously apt description of my own mother. Nailed it.
Thanks for this wonderful essay! Your words convinced me to become a paid subscriber:-) (A cheap one--have to save some money to cope with the coming inflation and food shortages resulting from tariffs and mass deportations, as well as the disruption from the coming epidemic of communicable disease as RFK forces all the states to let all the school kids opt out of shots--Like you, I also have anxiety and and active imagination LOL!). But you're right to find joy where we can; the people coming into power want those of us who think differently to despair and give up. Finding moments of joy in the face of darkness is not only good for one's mental health, but is also an act of rebellion, by taking control of those precious parts of you they cannot control, and is the first step to fighting against injustice and autocracy.
Sorry this is so preachy. I guess that's where I am today...
Thanks for your thoughtful words, Madelyn. And I really appreciate your support!
Had to laugh as I read this one, Carlos - Having had your dad pouring me half-empty glasses for over 35 years has left an indelible mark on me! And yes, despair about the results from last week's election is not restricted to clinical pessimists, as there hardly is a positive angle to any of this; this is where history comes to our aid, time and again showing us that smug assholes eventually get their due, as will be the case of this circus (would love to be a fly on the wall when the curry jokes begin making the rounds of the West Wing, let's see how Madame Vance takes them). Anyway, what was I talking about? Oh yes! Great piece! And keep hope alive, y'all! It is one of the few things in life that remains free!!!
Glad you enjoyed this one! You have the first hand experience with my dad to attest to my description, haha. And to your point, I do think more than a few chickens will be coming to roost in the next couple years.
Thank you so much for this. ❤️
Beautiful ♥️
OH. WOW. What a beautiful piece of writing, Carlos. Thank you for sharing it with us Substackers, writers, and I would guess, fellow members of The Resistance. I absolutely loved every second of reading this. Because I was doing many of the same exact things at that same exact time. Except being in Puerto Rico officiating a wedding. I wasn't doing that but I sure wish I WAS, cuz, DANCING IN THE RAIN! Loved that ending and that joyful image. Keep your joy; we'll follow along, no worries there!
Thank you, Kathleen!
So gorgeous - the telling and the sentiment. I too aim to dance in the rain ❤️
I loved this and I absolutely cried tears of joy and empathy. You’re amazing for sharing your joy and love with the world.
So true! But when Jan20 comes stay vigilant, democracy first!
I am so glad to have found this piece! I am now a subscriber. Thank you, Carlos, for helping shine a sunny light on this situation.
I’m glad you found it too! Thanks for reading!
Thank you for this! "Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m just going to sit back and accept whatever else happens. I believe it’s possible to fight the power joyfully. In fact, it’s probably the only way to fight the power." -- 🙌
Carlos, this is such a fabulously written piece! Thank you so much for sharing both your anxious struggles and your joyous insights & inspirations! As well as sharing a bit of your wonderful dad with us :-)
I will be re-reading this when (despite my best efforts) I fall into the inevitable roller coaster ride of anxious catastrophizing, soul-aching sadness, anger, fatalism, numbness, et al; so that I can exit that ugly tunnel into the sunshine of JOY that you so have so beautifully expressed here!
I think this issue is great regardless of political alignment. In fact, it's great because it's honest. And most of all it's nice to appreciate it from a person (like me) who didn't actually vote in this election. Because it also portrays what you don't see: the real way people feel, perceive and relate to what's happening. Thanks for sharing.