"JOY IS AN ACT OF RESISTANCE!!!"

[niyad]

One of the members of our Drinking Liberally group shared this meme with us last night. It is a shorthand version of something friends and I discuss regularly. The need to find every single moment of joy, laughter, grins, giggles, smiles, anything that brings a moment of lightness or peace. Yes, the situation is beyond horrible, yes, we despair, are angry, afraid, worried. But we need these other moments to keep us going.

[marble falls]

1. And resistence is an act of joy.

[niyad]

11. YES!!!

[marble falls]

17. As Mikail Bakunin once posited: The passion for distruction is also a creative passion.

[harumph]

2. I'm drinking more for sure.

My comfort activity is watching British crime procedurals - while having a drink of course.

[Walleye]

4. Me too, I find those British murder mysteries, very soothing. They're not yelling the whole time.

[niyad]

8. Same here.

[niyad]

10. Weirdly, I think I am drinking less. I will pour a glass, get distracted, involved

in reading, conversation, watching youtube videos, and forget the drink (fortunately the wine, at least, can be used in cooking later. )

[LSparkle]

32. I've been sober 3 years and I'm craving Pinot Grigio more and more ...

I wonder how many will fall off the wagon during this terrifying time. 😥

[Walleye]

3. Bright moments!

[niyad]

7. YES!!!

[live love laugh]

5. Remembering that joy was part of Kamala's campaign for good reason ....

They want us to be joyless and fearful.

[niyad]

6. Excellent point!

[bdamomma]

19. I keep on thinking

about the convicted felon's revenge on us, our institutions and just us being Americans. he definitely stole this election (water under the bridge now) and taking his revenge on all of us.

Even to the point of eliminating the USPS and other safety nets which we utilized, absentee ballots were used by many of us who live outside of country.

[ChazII]

9. I look for joy throughout my

day and small acts of defiance provides those moments of joy. I will admit that when I read the title of this thread I thought it was going to be about Joy Reid.

[niyad]

12. Every act of defiance, large or small. I can see why you would have

thought that.

[LiberalLoner]

13. Today my small act of defiance was to wish the Canada geese in our yard and flying overhead,

Safe journeys back to Canada, and enough food along the way.

I wished a blessing for Canada, of their geese returning home safely.

[niyad]

14. Beautiful!!! and so loving!

[LiberalLoner]

35. Thank you! 💙💙💙💙

[bdamomma]

20. Love your post

small pleasures bring kindness.

[LiberalLoner]

36. Thanks! 💙💙💙

[Oopsie Daisy]

15. Yes. I do my best to make my little corner of the world a happy place.

I know that it's just a form of denial and shutting-off the outside realities. But sometimes I just need a safe and happy (and cozy) place to withdraw to. Whether alone, or with family, or with friends... I try to find love and joy and wonder and excitement.

[niyad]

16. It is an act of self-preservation, not denial. And wisely done!

[allegorical oracle]

18. Every little crack that appears in the veneer of despotic gives me hope we can come out of this.

[bdamomma]

21. We cannot

give into fear. We know what we are dealing with.

[niyad]

30. I prefer red hot rage!

[bdamomma]

38. Yes

that rage will turn into ACTION!!!!!!!

[niyad]

39. Exactly!

[niyad]

29. Yes!!!

[Initech]

22. It's also the title of a really excellent album by the band IDLES!

https://idlesband.bandcamp.com/album/joy-as-an-act-of-resistance

[niyad]

26. Thank you. Had never heard of that band.

[Aristus]

23. We could have had joy with Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

My heart aches so much for what we could have had. But others wanted hatred, cruelty, incompetence, resentment, bitterness, and revenge against imagined grievances.

When I need joy, I watch music reaction videos (if you want your heart melted, watch someone listening to The Carpenters for the first time), and the scene in The Book Of Boba Fett when Mando and Grogu are reunited.

And of course, I come to DU, where my friends have kept me sane and hopeful for nearly a quarter of a century...

[niyad]

27. Absolutely correct on all counts!

[Jimbo S]

24. Love Drinking Liberally groups

Keeps me sane.

They want to see see liberal tears. Don't give it to them. Kill 'em with a smile.

[niyad]

25. An old poster from the late 60's, early 70's: "SMILE. Make them wonder

what you are up to!"

[ZDU]

28. Hear, HEAR!

[niyad]

31. Thank you.

[LoisB]

33. They want us to be as miserable as they are. I refuse.

[niyad]

34. Paraphrasing Emma Goldman: "If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of

your revolution."

[LoisB]

37. As we used to say back in the day: "Right On"!