Hi everyone, I normally post on Tuesdays, but I know many people are getting back to work today, so I thought I would send some words of encouragement. And those words are:
“OMG everything is crappy and I feel like crap and I don't want to write this blog I really just want to finish watching Heated Rivalry the Canadian show about sexy smoldering gay hockey players and not have to think about the uncontained dumpster fire that is end-stage capitalism and imperialism ugh I’m not sure I can make it through today much less this entire week and if anyone asks me about my resolutions this year I’m going to lose it I’m just gonna be curled up in the fetal position on my couch stuffing my face with leftover holiday chocolate!”
This is one of the worst weeks ever. It’s usually cold and dark (Southern Hemisphere colleagues, don’t rub it in!), and all the good cheer from the holidays is gone, and now we are confronted with cold, hard reality. We all look as haggard and depleted and droopy and frayed at the edges as the office plants some people forgot to take home before they went on break.
Anyway, if you’re feeling like crap, you’re in good company. Take it easy on yourself. Here are a few reminders I hope will be helpful as you navigate today, the rest of this week, and the rest of 2026. They’re all things I or others have said before, but it’s good to hear them again, especially during times like these:
You are amazing and so brilliant and cool: People in our sector are usually so humble. But to do this work, with all its challenges and shenanigans, requires an extreme level of creativity and ingenuity that the rest of the world takes for granted, and most of us also don’t take enough time to acknowledge. You are smart and talented, and the fact that you’re using your brilliance to help make people’s lives better, our community stronger, and the world more just—makes you super cool! Look in the mirror the next time you’re in the bathroom and take a moment to appreciate how awesome you are.
Your work makes a greater impact than you may ever know: I think a lot of the “blah” feeling many of us experience around this time is a result of wondering if anything we do makes any difference in the grand scheme of things, or if it’s all just an existential hamster wheel. Your work transforms lives and strengthens community. It’s just that oftentimes, the people you help may not have the time or language or emotional capacity at the moment to let you know. The work you do is like going skinny-dipping on a moonless night: You create significant ripples, even if you don’t see them and may never.
You feel terrible about the world because you care: If your stomach is in a knot and your face breaks out constantly because of everything awful going on daily in the world, it just means you are a decent human being who cares about others. That’s probably why you’re in this line of work. The key is learning to set boundaries and put safeguards into place, so you don’t let the weight of caring burn you out and affect your work or, worse, cause a random baby at a holiday party to want to touch your face, finding your stress acne scars fascinating. Not that I know from experience.
There are good things happening all the time: When there’s a constant stream of awfulness, it’s easy to fixate on what’s horrible and forget all the good things that are happening. This is one habit that I’m trying to break for myself. Instead of doomscrolling a few weeks ago, I read and shared about the many amazing things happening, and it was really nice to do that. People are resisting. Communities are protecting one another. Progressive candidates are winning. The ozone is healing. I found my retainers, which I had wrapped in a paper napkin and left in my laptop bag! There are good things happening every single day!
Decent people exist and they outnumber the assholes: This goes along with the point above. Assholes are pushy and loud and get lots of attention. Over time, we unconsciously internalize the message that there are more bad people than good. It’s the reverse. There are always decent people, and they usually outnumber the assholes. Even through some of the worst periods in history, we always see examples of people who do what’s right. For example, sure there may be fascist ICE agents roaming our streets and terrorizing communities. But, there are also these brave teens who follow them to warn others.
A better world is on her way: “Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.” That’s the Arundhati Roy quote I try to meditate on when the chaos is too much, and I just want to eat fair-trade chocolate under a weighted blanket. It’s good grounding for our work. Let’s remember that what we’re seeing is the painful process of society finally starting to shake itself loose from thousands of years of white supremacy, patriarchy, capitalism, colonialism, and so on. Snake shedding its skin and whatnot, so that a better and more just and less venomous snake could emerge as a beautiful butterfly. You know what I mean.
It’s OK to rest and find joy; you don’t have to fight every battle: There are countless battles to fight, but we must be strategic with our time and energy. Rest and joy are vital. Not just for you to be effective at your work. But they are intrinsically essential, regardless of your work. This goes for art, community, romance, and so on. Make time for them this year. You deserve it. Starting this week, starting now. This is especially important if you are a person of color, immigrant, trans, disabled, women, and other marginalized identities.
All right, I’ll end here, following my own advice above to rest. I am so grateful to be in this work with you. It’s OK to feel crappy and get very little done today and the rest of this week. But do take time to remind yourself that your work matters, positive things are happening, decent people exist, a more just world is coming, it's OK to rest and feel joy, and that you’re an incredible force for good, a bright light during the longest night. You're a source of hope and community and you're amazing, own it!
Happy new year!
Next week, maybe: “Heated Rivalry, If it Were Set in Nonprofit and Philanthropy.” There will be jokes about poutine.
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Vu’s new book is out. Order your copy at Elliott Bay Book Company, Barnes and Nobles, or Bookshop. If you’re in the UK, use this version of Bookshop. If you plan to order several copies, use Porchlight for significant bulk discounts. Also, if you're buying 25 copies or more, I'll be glad to call in for a 50-minute discussion; please contact NWBspeaking@gmail.com.
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