Inspirations: Inauguration Edition

So the day that we hoped we’d never see is here. I’ve been pretty depressed since the election, frustrated about everything from the appointments to the hacking, and everything in between. It’s going to be hard for all of us, and I can’t even begin to imagine what lies in store. But as usual, I found comfort in the words of my forever-President, Obama, when he ended his last press conference this week by reminding us that “The only thing that is the end of the world is the end of the world.”

In that spirit, and in the spirit of self-love, mindfulness, mental health, and all the things that we need to nurture in ourselves and in each other, I present a special edition of Inspirations. I don’t know what’s next, but I know that we have to soldier on, ‘Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more.’

Here are some articles…

Check out 7 ways to combat anxiety, tailor-made to Inauguration Day. (via Byrdie)

For tomorrow and the rest of the year, here are 31 Things You Can Do to Be Happier and Healthier in 2017. (via My Domaine)

Learn about American Values Religious Voices: 100 Days, 100 Letters, “national nonpartisan campaign that brings together scholars from a diverse range of religious traditions to articulate core American values that have grounded our nation in the past and should guide us forward at this time of transition.” I’m very excited to receive these letters in my inbox for the first one hundred days of Trump’s term. He, Pence, Cabinet Secretaries and the members of the House and Senate will also be receiving them. One of the authors, Rabbi Shai Held is a very dear friend of my father and our family!

Here are 25 things to do, starting tomorrow. We can’t stop the inauguration, but we have to move forward. (via Upworthy)

Remember that women won in other ways this year. Now take that pride and continue moving forward. (via Vogue)

… And now, some tips from me to you AKA what I will be doing tomorrow:

Finding refuge. I might go to the library or go for a drive. Get out of your head and into a safe space.

Get moving. Whenever I have a bad day or a can’t get over a breakup, going to the gym distracts me and makes me feel better at the same time.

Give. Whether it’s your time or your money, giving back feels good and is more important than ever. Organizations like Planned Parenthood, American Civil Liberties Union, USA for The UN Refugee Agency, and Southern Poverty Law Center need our support.

Go outside. Ice skating at my childhood rink gets me out of the house, in the sunshine, and if you’re an experienced skater, it can torch an insane number of calories. This one works on so many levels.

Practice mindfulness. It definitely takes practice and it’s something I’ve been working on. Acknowledge how you’re feeling, let yourself feel them, tell yourself that you’re allowed to feel that way, and then work on letting them go.