I didn’t plan for this

I never expected to live in an America that wasn’t a democracy.

I never expected to live in an America where our individual freedoms are not valued.

I never expected to live in an America where citizens willingly relinquish their human rights.

I never expected to have to teach myself how to preserve my mental health in the face of news reporting the decline of America day after day,

reporting the rise of a dictator and oligarchy,

reporting the theft of rights,

reporting the abandonment of law.

I never expected to learn how

to continue to work as if this is normal,

to keep my family optimistic while preparing for the unthinkable,

to be strong and hopeful role model for my community,

to dedicate every spare bit of energy to my community to teach ourselves

how to resist, how to defy,

how to live in rage and joy simultaneously.

This wasn’t supposed to be my life.

I didn’t plan for this.

But you better believe I’m ready.