Keeping Me Sane | 2.27.25
A catalog of things that have brought me joy, caused me to think, or have helped to keep me sane in these insane times
I’ve been retooling a few things here at Tune My Heart and one section I knew I wanted to modify and improve was the Sunday Saves section.
Sunday Saves was “a weekly catalog of random things that brought me joy or caused me to think”. But the onslaught of scorched-earth policies, anti-democratic agenda, and executive orders from #47 — coupled with the ever-worsening culture wars — has me flip-flopping between anger, fear, despair, disbelief and back to anger on a daily basis.
So this section will be the same as it’s always been, except that I have changed its name to Keeping Me Sane and I will also include things that have helped to keep me sane and have redirected my anger and helped distract me.
I hesitate to use the word “distract”, because while there are days when I just can’t handle more bad news and instead prefer to bury my head in the sand, I don’t want to be distracted. I can’t be distracted. I won’t be distracted.
But if I don’t balance all the garbage and bad news coming at me, I tend toward anger, fear, and anxiety. So “distract” is accurate — even if the distractions can only last for a bit.
I need more truth, joy, kindness, glimpses of people standing up for what is right and good, and laughter in my life than ever before. I have a feeling all of us need more of these things.
Going forward, this section will include a list of links (to articles, podcasts, others’ writing, etc…), photos, videos, and more — all with very little commentary from me because I don’t have a whole lot of that left to give and there’s typically nothing else to add.
As I wrote in November, I am still Exhausted. Grieving. Angry. Worried. …hopeful. I am still brokenhearted over the fact that this country chose hate, greed, and “life” at the expense of humanity. I still fear for everyone whose lives are now really and truly even more unsafe than they already were.
I also wrote in November that I would no longer be writing about politics. But you can bet that Keeping Me Sane will include others’ thoughts and writings on politics and the state of this country and world. Politics affect policies, and polices affect people, so I will always pay attention. Keeping Me Sane will not be solely focused on politics because that’s not sustainable or healthy, but you will see some of the things that I’m trying to remind myself of and using to help keep my heart tuned to Truth.
What you’ll also find in these entries is that I gravitate toward a lot of the same wisdom, teaching, and truth-telling that I was already prone to quote in Sunday Saves; you’ll also see a few new things that I’m diving into. I will still rely on the words and direction of others to help keep me sane, keep me grounded and rooted in truth, or help me feel less alone and anxious.
So do with these writings what you will. Use them and interpret them as you’d like. But it is my hope that you’ll find encouragement, truth, joy, laughter, and maybe even a few things that will sustain you along the way.
Without further ado, here is today’s truncated list, since my intro was so wordy —
I’ve practically memorized the podcast above, as I’ve listened to it more times than I can count!
Speaking of “more times than I can count”: this video has been playing on repeat on my phone for a few weeks and I pull it up whenever I need an “injection” of joy.
The music and the 80’s moves are SO GOOD but what I love most is their smiles — every single one of them!
“Being grounded is difficult when the future is unknown and filled with anxiety. Trump has signaled the kind of president he will be: vengeful, uncontrolled, and unburdened by past norms and current laws. If you’re like me, you’re already tired. The prospect of more drama is daunting.”
From 10 Ways To Stay Grounded During Trump’s Second Term
Here’s the pattern autocratic politicians follow: They rise in popularity by exploiting economic insecurities and manipulating a people’s fear of others — immigrants, Kurds, Muslims, Jews, or any vulnerable public scapegoat. They employ extreme nationalistic sentiments, often bolstered by a religious ideology, to provide their followers with a sense of tribal righteousness. According to the nonpartisan organization Protect Democracy, once authoritarian leaders are elected, they employ the following tactics:
Spread disinformation to create a supportive narrative for themselves.
Exert political control over independent government agencies responsible for functions such as law enforcement, the court system, financial accountability, and intelligence.
Intimidate and repress opposition voices, including in the media, civil society, and religious groups.
Aggressively expand executive power over legislative power, judicial restraints, and legal precedents.
Continue to scapegoat vulnerable groups and undermine the rights of minorities.
Attack the integrity of elections and politicize those who administer them.
Tolerate, condone, or stoke violence to bolster public support for authoritarian action.
These tactics flow from and enhance an autocrat’s own grandiosity. These movements portray trust in a charismatic “strong man” as the only remedy to the demographic fears, cultural estrangement, and economic anxieties felt by the plurality of supporters who have elected the leader.
From A Strategy for Christian Witness Against Trump’s Autocracy
This is Lorna — her “hello” is my favorite!
But really, all of these talking dogs have brightened many of my days in the last couple of weeks.
What’s helping to keep you sane lately?
What are you focusing on today or this week to keep hope from being extinguished?
I’d love to know — please share in the comments or reply via email. 💜
