[THE LATEST] I didn't want to get up this morning

I didn't want to continue participating in my all-day meeting yesterday.

I didn't want to make any more decisions.

I didn't want to have any more opinions.

I didn't want to walk the dog.

I didn't want to eat.

I didn't want to turn off the news.

I didn't want to put my phone away, in case I missed a friend from home reaching out to tell me that they were finally safe.

I didn't want to go to bed last night, I didn't know if I could.

I didn't want to get up this morning.

I didn't want to brush my teeth.

I didn't want to put on clothes.

I didn't want to work.

I didn't want to do anything.

But I stayed in my all-day meeting yesterday. It wasn't perfect, but I'm glad I did.

I still made decisions and had opinions. It wasn't perfect, but I'm glad I did.

I eventually walked the dog and ate and turned off the news and put my phone away and went to bed. It wasn't perfect, but I'm glad I did.

Then I got up this morning and I put on my clothes and I brushed my teeth and I sat down for a full day's worth of work. It wasn't perfect, but I'm glad I did.

Jarring, historical events — no matter how you affiliate or identify yourself — are traumatic. Take care of yourself. Be kind to yourself. Give yourself grace. You need space to process, to grieve, to contextualize with friends, family, and loved ones. We all do, for we are human.

But don't let go and don't give up.

Our processes, our norms, our relationships, and our day-to-day activities are what empower us to achieve the forward progress we seek at home and at work and in the world around us. They guarantee the resilience (and the necessary growth) of our systems and institutions, however flawed they may be.

It won't be perfect, but you'll be glad you did.