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Sam’s Six Things I’ll Do This Summer

Sam B

We’re in tough times.

Here’s just a few things I’m worried about: democracy, universities, economic collapse, nuclear war, trans rights, world health, future pandemics, starvation and disease in countries that relied on US aid, Canadian sovreignty.

We’re adding those to my existing base-level worry about ongoing environmental devastation due to climate change. Whenever I start to write the list, I get a prompt from whatever writing tool this app uses to alert me to the danger of run-on, very long sentences.

WELL, IT’S NOT MY FAULT THERE’S SO MUCH ON THE LIST.

What a nightmare.

Here’s a simpler list, a happier list. It’s six things I’m going to do more of this summer, the summer I’m 60 years old.

☀️SWIM

☀️LONG WALKS

☀️SAIL

☀️BIKE

☀️CANOE CAMPING

☀️CONNECT WITH FRIENDS

I love this list!

It’s hard to balance the anger,  frustration, and sadness with the joy and love that’s in the world. It’s hard to balance awareness of one’s own privilege with the current state of affairs.

No wants to be the person fiddling while Rome burns. Or to fit it to our context,  the person canoe camping while democracy dies in the country next door.

But I do want to be the person who notices beautiful things and makes room for joy in her life.

Also, I’m excited about summer and about eating ice cream! You?

Published by Sam B

Philosopher, feminist, parent, and cyclist! Co-founder of Fit Is a Feminist Issue, co-author of Fit at Mid-Life: A Feminist Fitness Journey, published by Greystone Books.

2 thoughts on “Sam’s Six Things I’ll Do This Summer”

  1. I am with you on the long list of worries and upsetting things. But I also don’t think of looking at good things as “Fiddling while Rome burns.” That implies ignoring what’s going on and doing nothing which I know you’re not. I think a closer thing is what Dan Savage said a while back:
    “During the darkest days of the AIDS crisis, we buried our friends in the morning, we protested in the afternoon, and we danced all night. The dance kept us in the fight because it was the dance we were fighting for. It didn’t look like we were going to win then and we did. It doesn’t feel like we’re going to win now but we could. Keep fighting, keep dancing.”

  2. You’re right on both fronts. Seems to me it’s extremely important not to forget beauty and joy during difficult times. We mustn’t forget that they exist, must keep in sight the things that are worth struggling for.

    And a comment on your earlier post, as a US citizen, I appreciate your decision to stay away. We, as individuals, only have a few paths to make a difference. But the more of us who take those paths, the louder the message.

    It’s hard right now to digest the news, but it can’t last forever. This is already doing serious harm to so many people who were promised help. I hope the more we all do, the sooner it will have to change.

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