I attend rallies. I write postcards. I go to bridge standouts. I make phone calls. I call my Senators and Congress Folk and say "Thank you!!!! Keep up the good work!!" (I live in Massachusetts).
I shop and cook for a disabled woman and her disabled son.
I can look my activist kids in the eye and say "I tried."
I listen to jazz, read books, and watch bad sci fi from the 50s and 60s.
We do what we can. As a Brit once told me: "We survived Henry VIII. You will survive Trump."
The real shout-out goes to the organizers: I get an email every few days coordinating postcards and phonebanks and standouts. I just follow directions.
Your service to two who need help already says everything about you I need to know. Thank you for reinforcing civilized behavior, rather than undermining it.
I can't fix the Supreme Court. I can't restart USAID. It's not that difficult to do a little extra shopping and cook a double batch. If I weren't high risk I'd return to work at the food kitchens. (Full disclosure: I'm retired so I have time.)
I watch reruns of Dick Van Dyke and read a lot of Dave Barry to get away from current events, but it only helps so much. I like the words your British friend told you: we will survive! And in the end, most of us will be able to stand tall and say we did what we could and we *actively* resisted trump and all he stood for!
((I live in Colorado, and I am often thanking my reps and senators, too! Neguse, Bennet and (usually) Hickenlooper.))
I thank all of my reps in DC too. I live in NJ, and they are all Democrats. Senators Booker and Kim, and Rep. Conaway. I call them regularly with things I support them on as well.
I also go to a protest every Friday, weather permitting. I’m 85, and if it’s too cold or damp, I stay home and warm.
I watch reruns of All in the Family, M*A*S*H, Hogan’s Heroes, as well as Dick Van Dyke. All favorites from my childhood. All reminders that we’ve survived some tough times…
M*A*S*H! Me, too! I love M*A*S*H! I have the entire M*A*S*H series on DVD (same with The Dick Van Dyke Show). Yes, we’ve weathered terrible times, but I’ve never before felt like the entire American government has been overflowing with the most heinous, sadistic, evil people possible in all branches like it is now, with a majority of the country’s citizens so apathetic and/or ignorant to (and/or even actively in support of) the suffering going on. A show akin to M*A*S*H would never make it to pilot stage in this environment and age. As Pogo said, “I have met the enemy, and he is us.” Now more than ever.
Yes to our wonderful MA senators! And thank you for all you do. I always thought Trump was a modern Henry VIII - glad to hear an expert agrees :)
A Scottish musician recently calmed an American audience by saying, "Love will win. We always do." I'll take that from someone who's country has suffered long and deep historical abuse.
Not really. I love how the Brits use the royal "we." It's true that England survived Henry, but remember that an awful lot of innocent people burned at the stake. And like Henry's, at least one of Sleepy Don's wives might not agree. Not to mention the whole Church of England thing.
I watch animals on You Tube. Golden Retrievers and other pups playing in the snow allow me to sleep better at night.I have concluded that the wild and domesticated critters have a purity of soul that many humans have lost in the midst of the mind-bending madness bombarding us every day. My beautiful feline tells me that being heated cat furniture is a high calling so I do my best to calm down and provide comfort.
I like to say don’t borrow trouble. My husband and I have been intentionally trying to make friends and encourage a sense of community in our neighborhood. In the summer we pulled out chairs in our front yard and invited anyone that passed to join us for a beer or other beverage. It was very popular. We make lots of popcorn and serve it with drinks in plastic tubs. We continued until it became chilly and we pulled out our fire pit and kept it up around the fire. It is snowy now so instead of sitting outside we have snow blowers and blow off the sidewalks on both sides of the street. Our community is well connected and many of us carpool to protests and such. Try it, it’s fun!
Marjorie, I just printed out your post. They are such great ideas. We have block parties a few times a year but your ideas take it up a few notches. My husband is more social than me and very involved in our local community, so I know he will just love this. I'll make the beer runs and make the popcorn. Thanks for your post.
Thank you for your kind words. I can’t begin to tell you how much of a difference this has made to our lives. We set the chairs out at about 5:00 pm on most days. We make sure to say hello to anyone passing and if they engage at all we invite them to join us. Our four year old grandchild came over one morning and asked us where all the people were. We laughed because she has been by when the yard was full of friends. Enjoy!
To whoever wrote, "The Serenity Prayer is really a recap of Stoic thinking (sorry, Christians)." No need to apologize. I spent my adult life studying and teaching Christian ethics, and any honest theological scholar will tell that any ethics in early Christianity that aren't borrowed from Judaism are borrowed from Stoicism. Nothing wrong with borrowing good ideas.
A small nit point. The original serenity prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr from the 1930s was worded somewhat differently. Instead of the more passive "things I cannot change" his version spoke about "things that cannot be helped." I use that version frequently in my own prayers -- it somehow feels stronger to me -- sometimes adding at the end "...at least not by me." But any version helps divide the world into manageable and unmanageable parts. Getting those two things right is all the difference between morality and insanity.
Thank you for this wording. I tried to find it online but there seems to be many versions claiming to be Niebuhr's original serenity prayer. All are useful -- if we can remember to heed them throughout the day instead, as I do, just before going to sleep.
For what it's worth, AI's version (claiming also to be the original):
"Father, give us courage to change what must be altered, serenity to accept what cannot be helped, and the insight to know the one from the other."
All sources seem to agree on one thing: the original (prepared for soldiers going to Europe in the 1940s, and later for Alcoholics Anonymous) was its use of the plural, not singular. I think it's safe to say Niebuhr felt prayer was more a communal act, rather than an individual one. I don't really know. But whatever the wording, yes, heeding is more important than phrasing...!
I lost my wife of 30 years to a catastrophic illness on June 14th, 2025. I've had many opportunities to put Epictetus ideas into practice during her illness and afterwards. Laughing at the TBR Report with fellow readers has helped me a lot.
So sorry for your loss, Roland. As a Christian, I find a line from Psalm 46 helped me in difficult times: Be Still and Know that I am God. This comforts me greatly.
All great suggestions. I watched Nuremberg on New Year’s Eve and besides being a thoroughly magnificent film, it was a potent reminder that people MUST be held accountable. If you can’t get to a theater, it was worth the $20 streaming fee. I await Nuremberg:The Next Generation with great anticipation.
Amen….I need to send this to a friend who lives alone, doesn’t have much family, is probably neurodivergent, and obsesses over the news every single day. Perhaps I should even get him a subscription to TBR next time you have a deal….He does have a great sense of humor…His saving grace…..
Great idea to send him TBR - I have been reliant on Andy B for psychic relief beginning with "The Koch Brothers Paid too much for Scott Walker" (The New Yorker edition).
Yes, I gave a subscription to my granddaughter with 3 children. Not much time for reading, but I hope she finds humor as a great remedy to the crazy. PS, I seriously doubt we'll ever see 1, ballroom 2, trump arch.
Can only hope for 1, No wars 2, he's carted off to loony ward or funeral home.
3, it takes less than 4 years to repair all his damage
Maybe help your friend to go to a protest or an ICE facility protest or to write postcards.. DOING something, as other TBR readers have said, really helps connect to the larger community that wants to banish these dark times.
It's never good to: (1) buy gasoline, and (2) burn gasoline.
Research which EV will work for your daily driving needs, figure out where you will charge it, then save up and get it done as quickly as possible. This should be your top priority.
While the departure of Stefanik is an argument for belief in a higher being, the death of Tatiana Schlossberg at 35 is a much stronger argument against.
I attend rallies. I write postcards. I go to bridge standouts. I make phone calls. I call my Senators and Congress Folk and say "Thank you!!!! Keep up the good work!!" (I live in Massachusetts).
I shop and cook for a disabled woman and her disabled son.
I can look my activist kids in the eye and say "I tried."
I listen to jazz, read books, and watch bad sci fi from the 50s and 60s.
We do what we can. As a Brit once told me: "We survived Henry VIII. You will survive Trump."
This is all great.
sending you a well earned hug and my thanks, BTAM - I do what I can as well, and while it doesn't seem enough at times, doing nothing is not an option
Thank you!
The real shout-out goes to the organizers: I get an email every few days coordinating postcards and phonebanks and standouts. I just follow directions.
Nothing seems enough to me, either, but you and BTAM and other TBRers keep me doing all I can! Thank you!
Your service to two who need help already says everything about you I need to know. Thank you for reinforcing civilized behavior, rather than undermining it.
Thank you!
I can't fix the Supreme Court. I can't restart USAID. It's not that difficult to do a little extra shopping and cook a double batch. If I weren't high risk I'd return to work at the food kitchens. (Full disclosure: I'm retired so I have time.)
I watch reruns of Dick Van Dyke and read a lot of Dave Barry to get away from current events, but it only helps so much. I like the words your British friend told you: we will survive! And in the end, most of us will be able to stand tall and say we did what we could and we *actively* resisted trump and all he stood for!
((I live in Colorado, and I am often thanking my reps and senators, too! Neguse, Bennet and (usually) Hickenlooper.))
Thanks, BTAM!
I thank all of my reps in DC too. I live in NJ, and they are all Democrats. Senators Booker and Kim, and Rep. Conaway. I call them regularly with things I support them on as well.
I also go to a protest every Friday, weather permitting. I’m 85, and if it’s too cold or damp, I stay home and warm.
I watch reruns of All in the Family, M*A*S*H, Hogan’s Heroes, as well as Dick Van Dyke. All favorites from my childhood. All reminders that we’ve survived some tough times…
M*A*S*H! Me, too! I love M*A*S*H! I have the entire M*A*S*H series on DVD (same with The Dick Van Dyke Show). Yes, we’ve weathered terrible times, but I’ve never before felt like the entire American government has been overflowing with the most heinous, sadistic, evil people possible in all branches like it is now, with a majority of the country’s citizens so apathetic and/or ignorant to (and/or even actively in support of) the suffering going on. A show akin to M*A*S*H would never make it to pilot stage in this environment and age. As Pogo said, “I have met the enemy, and he is us.” Now more than ever.
Yes to our wonderful MA senators! And thank you for all you do. I always thought Trump was a modern Henry VIII - glad to hear an expert agrees :)
A Scottish musician recently calmed an American audience by saying, "Love will win. We always do." I'll take that from someone who's country has suffered long and deep historical abuse.
Thank you for all you do! Living in Massachusetts is a consolation, at least.
Not really. I love how the Brits use the royal "we." It's true that England survived Henry, but remember that an awful lot of innocent people burned at the stake. And like Henry's, at least one of Sleepy Don's wives might not agree. Not to mention the whole Church of England thing.
I watch animals on You Tube. Golden Retrievers and other pups playing in the snow allow me to sleep better at night.I have concluded that the wild and domesticated critters have a purity of soul that many humans have lost in the midst of the mind-bending madness bombarding us every day. My beautiful feline tells me that being heated cat furniture is a high calling so I do my best to calm down and provide comfort.
I live in Massachusetts also and that is all that is keeping me sane and hopeful!
Dogs are the cure for just about anything.
Thanks for writing this. Now to implementation. Happy New Year.
And cats.
And cats…nothing like a cuddly cat on my lap
to bring sweetness to my life!!
Dogs and cats are nature's gift to human beings, too many of whom don't deserve them.
<appreciative applause>
Amen to that, Don!
I like to say don’t borrow trouble. My husband and I have been intentionally trying to make friends and encourage a sense of community in our neighborhood. In the summer we pulled out chairs in our front yard and invited anyone that passed to join us for a beer or other beverage. It was very popular. We make lots of popcorn and serve it with drinks in plastic tubs. We continued until it became chilly and we pulled out our fire pit and kept it up around the fire. It is snowy now so instead of sitting outside we have snow blowers and blow off the sidewalks on both sides of the street. Our community is well connected and many of us carpool to protests and such. Try it, it’s fun!
Marjorie, I just printed out your post. They are such great ideas. We have block parties a few times a year but your ideas take it up a few notches. My husband is more social than me and very involved in our local community, so I know he will just love this. I'll make the beer runs and make the popcorn. Thanks for your post.
Thank you for your kind words. I can’t begin to tell you how much of a difference this has made to our lives. We set the chairs out at about 5:00 pm on most days. We make sure to say hello to anyone passing and if they engage at all we invite them to join us. Our four year old grandchild came over one morning and asked us where all the people were. We laughed because she has been by when the yard was full of friends. Enjoy!
What a great idea! Bravo!
To whoever wrote, "The Serenity Prayer is really a recap of Stoic thinking (sorry, Christians)." No need to apologize. I spent my adult life studying and teaching Christian ethics, and any honest theological scholar will tell that any ethics in early Christianity that aren't borrowed from Judaism are borrowed from Stoicism. Nothing wrong with borrowing good ideas.
Correct! Borrow from the best!
A small nit point. The original serenity prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr from the 1930s was worded somewhat differently. Instead of the more passive "things I cannot change" his version spoke about "things that cannot be helped." I use that version frequently in my own prayers -- it somehow feels stronger to me -- sometimes adding at the end "...at least not by me." But any version helps divide the world into manageable and unmanageable parts. Getting those two things right is all the difference between morality and insanity.
Thank you for this wording. I tried to find it online but there seems to be many versions claiming to be Niebuhr's original serenity prayer. All are useful -- if we can remember to heed them throughout the day instead, as I do, just before going to sleep.
For what it's worth, AI's version (claiming also to be the original):
"Father, give us courage to change what must be altered, serenity to accept what cannot be helped, and the insight to know the one from the other."
All sources seem to agree on one thing: the original (prepared for soldiers going to Europe in the 1940s, and later for Alcoholics Anonymous) was its use of the plural, not singular. I think it's safe to say Niebuhr felt prayer was more a communal act, rather than an individual one. I don't really know. But whatever the wording, yes, heeding is more important than phrasing...!
I lost my wife of 30 years to a catastrophic illness on June 14th, 2025. I've had many opportunities to put Epictetus ideas into practice during her illness and afterwards. Laughing at the TBR Report with fellow readers has helped me a lot.
Sorry for your loss, and grateful that you’re here with us ❤️
Much thanks, Andy. I attended your show at the MacCarter theater in Princeton, NJ. It was great! And therapeutic for me.
So sorry for your loss, Roland. As a Christian, I find a line from Psalm 46 helped me in difficult times: Be Still and Know that I am God. This comforts me greatly.
Also Psalm 27, which is my help in difficult times: The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear?
Thank you, Annette.
We support you - that’s a big loss. I’m glad you can still laugh! 🙃
Thank you! I was told that laughing at tyrants is effective, so I do.
Thanks for sharing and SO sorry.
I also like the senility prayer:
God grant me the Senility to forget the people I never liked, the good fortune to run into the ones I do, and the eyesight to tell the difference.
This is great! lol
All great suggestions. I watched Nuremberg on New Year’s Eve and besides being a thoroughly magnificent film, it was a potent reminder that people MUST be held accountable. If you can’t get to a theater, it was worth the $20 streaming fee. I await Nuremberg:The Next Generation with great anticipation.
I love the comment about music. It makes me dance. Dancing makes me happy! Happier than listening to the news.
(Pooper scooping the yard makes me happier than listening to
the news…!)
Happy new year everyone! Let's make this one really count.
Yes! please and thank you!
I’ve found that a dog’s love is the purist and most genuine path to serenity. Their eyes never lie. Thank you, Cookie and Mousse.
Amen, Scott!
I’m an atheist, too, but I hope I’m wrong.
lol!! Love this, Dave!👏😅
Me too
Amen….I need to send this to a friend who lives alone, doesn’t have much family, is probably neurodivergent, and obsesses over the news every single day. Perhaps I should even get him a subscription to TBR next time you have a deal….He does have a great sense of humor…His saving grace…..
Great idea to send him TBR - I have been reliant on Andy B for psychic relief beginning with "The Koch Brothers Paid too much for Scott Walker" (The New Yorker edition).
Marianne: Do it! It’s the “best thing to do” and it will help him to not feel alone in his angst over the daily horror that is this regime. 🙃
I decided to go ahead and get him a one month subscription for now and see how he likes it…I will continue you it if he enjoys it!
I already gave subscriptions to my son and SIL last year!
Yes, I gave a subscription to my granddaughter with 3 children. Not much time for reading, but I hope she finds humor as a great remedy to the crazy. PS, I seriously doubt we'll ever see 1, ballroom 2, trump arch.
Can only hope for 1, No wars 2, he's carted off to loony ward or funeral home.
3, it takes less than 4 years to repair all his damage
Maybe help your friend to go to a protest or an ICE facility protest or to write postcards.. DOING something, as other TBR readers have said, really helps connect to the larger community that wants to banish these dark times.
Maybe you should name it “The TBR Be at Peace Award.”
Thank you for the glimmers of hope that you send forth. Shine on!!
I have to modify this advice:
First: Figure out in any situation what is the best thing to do.
Second: Do it.
If I have to figure out some singular best thing to do, I drown in the sea of perfectionism.
Instead, I need to find ONE right thing to do. Then do it.
Yes - choose where you can be MOST effective given your circumstances.
It's never good to: (1) buy gasoline, and (2) burn gasoline.
Research which EV will work for your daily driving needs, figure out where you will charge it, then save up and get it done as quickly as possible. This should be your top priority.
While the departure of Stefanik is an argument for belief in a higher being, the death of Tatiana Schlossberg at 35 is a much stronger argument against.