1.  Gee, Laura, we’re kinda surprised you’re back so soon.

2.  I see how you could think that, blog friends.

3.  I did, after all, stumble in here and refer to my writing as word vomit before abruptly exiting the premises.

4.  Rather dramatic, if I do say so myself.

5.  Though I’ll also say any further writing attempts on the 6th would have sounded less like coherent thought and more like that jangling noise you get when a dozen elementary students play their recorders.

6.  Nothing y’all needed to witness so we kept it clean.

7.  And I rested.

8.  Well, I tried to rest on Wednesday but life started life-ing and rest got bumped.

9.  I rested on Thursday. Ish.

10.  We’ll call it rested-lite.

11.  So in a bid for normality I’m putting out a 40 things post which, Lord willing, will contain precisely zero word vomit despite my post-election fog.

12.  As a writer I’m thinking I should probably start with avoiding the word vomit.

13.  Big Goals.

14.  How many of us just realized our Thanksgiving gatherings are now exponentially more complicated?

15.  No, not all™of the gatherings but some will definitely be more touch and go than others.

16.  Cue the doomsday music.

17.  Why don’t we have a little fun with it.

18.  Nope, nothin’ funny to see here, just the death of democracy. GOOD TIMES.

19.  Reset and start again.

20.  Let’s find some light in the dark.

21.

22.

@sidneymorss

The bear would never…

♬ original sound – Sidney

23.

24.  Phew. Okay. Caught my breath.

25.  I know we’re all on the struggle bus right now so I’m gonna hold your hand while I say this…

26.  If you’re a white woman out here talking up the Blue Bracelet movement to show you’re an ALLY and TRUSTWORTHY and ONE OF THE GOOD ONES — stop. just stop.

27.  We, as a group, suck. Collectively. Total suckage.

28.  Do you not suck? Personally speaking? That’s great news.

29.  Does not negate the fact that as a whole white women are, quite frankly, awful.

30.  These are dark days and it’s easy to get pulled off track.

31.  So if you’ve latched onto the idea of wearing a blue bead bracelet to “show solidarity” I’m going to suggest you a) give the money you would spend on it to a Black owned business or educator and b) show up as the good human you are without worrying about accessories.

32.  It’s been a while since we talked resources. These are a few of the teachers I learn from.

33.  Portia is brilliant. Buy a journal, find her on Instagram or TikTok, and start listening and learning.

@portia.noir

Elevated musings. #portianoir

♬ original sound – Portia

34.  Luvvie Ajayi Jones is also amazing. This is her ground rules post from Instagram.

35.  Nimay Ndolo has a wide ranging platform but her messages always resonate.

@nimay.ndolo

If the technology EXISTS, it can be used to make elections FAIR, ACCESSIBLE, & FREE. Democracy & transparency should go hand in hand.

♬ original sound – NIMAY NDOLO

36.  Dr. Raquel Martin speaks on the importance of mental health and coping skills.

@raquelmartinphd

Even when you brace for impact, it doesn’t make the reality any less heavy. This is not a time to jump into action, it is not the time to ask more from those who’ve given everything to steer us toward progress. This is a time for grief. For deep breaths, safe spaces, and the simple act of holding each other. This country’s flaws are deep, and the weight is real. But through it all, we remain. We’ll rise when we’re ready, on our own terms, for our communities and for ourselves.

♬ original sound – RaquelMartinPhD

37.  Victoria Alexander works in social justice and nails it with her commentary.

@victoria_phd

Reply to @factsmatteracr tell me you only bring up these points to invalidate Black voices without telling me. #wealthgap #antiracism #elfitup

♬ original sound – Victoria Alexander

38.  So those are just a few of the people I’m learning from. Visit their pages, check them out.

39.  We’re gonna have dinner with some friends this weekend. They’re those friends who won’t bat an eye if I burst out with a “WHAT in the everyloving F*CK is happening right now????” which is exactly what I need.

40.  Hope you spend time with your people this weekend. Make sure you’re getting good sleep and staying hydrated.