What Can One Old Woman Do?

Practices for the Dark Wilderness in Front of Us

This past Monday marked the end of the holidays. With the new year in full swing, we’ve returned to our routines of work and daily schedules. Like many battle-weary citizens, I’ve distanced myself from the relentless overconsumption of news, savoring the last few moments of quiet before the inevitable chaos in our nation’s capital begins in earnest.

But I don’t want to completely turn away. I want to bear witness to the days and weeks ahead, to the history we are living through. Carefully, I ease back into selected news sources, mindful of my limits. I remind myself: consume what I can handle, without allowing anxiety or fear to overwhelm me. This is not the time to retreat or hide away—even though there are moments when I long to climb into bed and wake only when the oligarchy is over.

In the early hours of writing and reflection, I ask myself: What can one old woman do? How can I contribute to the healing of democracy, of this country, of our people? The challenges are daunting, but I have a plan—and I know I’m not alone. I’ve spoken with others who feel the same. Together, we are neither broken nor powerless.

Here is what I’m telling myself:

Stay Creative
Spend time each day making something meaningful. Plant a garden. Write. Paint. Create music. Dance. Quilt. Whatever you choose, let it be an offering to the world—a remembrance of these times and a testament to love and justice.

Give Yourself to Service
Find ways to help others. Volunteer at a food bank. Tutor kids who need support. Teach a free class at a library or community center. Acts of service keep civility and compassion alive, while nourishing your own humility and sense of purpose.

Practice Hospitality
Be kind. Be welcoming. Keep an open heart and an open mind. Practice listening—truly listening—to others with care and thoughtfulness.

Stay Informed
There’s a difference between staying informed and drowning in an endless cycle of news and commentary. Stop yelling at the television. Stop bingeing on political punditry. Stay aware, but practice restraint.

Stop Buying So Much Stuff
If you want to see unchecked greed, look no further than those poised to “govern” us. Governing should not be reduced to a tool for enriching the wealthy while impoverishing everyone else. I can vote with my dollars. To Corporate America: I don’t need the endless stream of products you’re pushing. I don’t need another app. I don’t need the latest trend or gadget. Instead, I can recycle, spend less, and not practice of consumerism as the religion it has become.

Creativity. Service. Hospitality. Awareness. Simplicity. This is where I am rooting my resistance and resilience. No one can take away our ability to do good in the world. One old woman, joined by another, and then another, can spark a ripple effect in a culture starved for soul and substance.

May we each take time to sit in silence daily, imagining what true caring and kindness for others looks like. Tell me, have you thought about how you will navigate the choppy waters ahead? Please share your thoughts here as they will most likely inspire and help others. We are all in this together.

Thank you, dear and precious reader, for being part of my world.
~Stephanie