Arc of Emotions

I've been thinking a lot about the wild arc of emotions this week.

Wednesday morning when I looked at the numbers and already-called races I felt nauseous and devastated and angry and sad. I thought, OMG so many people went so far beyond what they had ever done before to get out the vote. If we couldn't make a landslide happen with what felt like a landslide of effort, then what? For the first time in a long time I felt hopeless.

And then yesterday, just two short days later (though I know this wait has felt like an eternity) I felt like, OMG the landslide of effort worked! All of the letters and postcards and phone calls and conversations made a difference! I felt actual chills running up and down my arms as I saw the numbers change direction.

This photo popped up in my memories today. Four years ago I spent hours making celebratory pantsuit cupcakes. I can still remember the elated feeling of driving around to share them with friends, followed by gut wrenching devastation and shock and that same nauseous feeling I felt on Wednesday.

I guess my point is that there are going to be a ton of feelings and this is a good time to square up with yours and figure out how to give yourself what you need to survive the ride. YOUR TIMELINE IS YOURS. Personally I don't feel like I can fully celebrate until inauguration, which feelings like another eternity from now, but these cupcakes reminded me that if we could fight and persevere--both action-wise and emotionally--through the rage rollercoaster of the past 4 years, we know we can do hard things. And that we'll continue to have hard work in front of us. Buckle up.