I harvested the world's tiniest carrot from our garden yesterday.

In a previous newsletter, I shared that we started our first garden at the end of the summer. We planted spinach, little gem lettuce, mesclun greens, carrots, beets, and radishes, all from seeds. We transplanted cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, and kale from seedlings that I grew indoors for the first time. Big plans with big expectations.

The results have been... not what we had hoped. The spinach sprouted but never grew. The little gem didn't sprout at all. The beets grew some leaves but were planted in an area that didn't fare well during the hurricane. Squirrels have eaten the kale, and dug up (but not eaten) the cauliflower, radish and brussel sprouts plants, so while they're still intact, they aren't actually in the ground long enough to develop roots and grow.

So, what's left? The mesclun greens are thriving, the broccoli plants are still in the ground and growing (and not eaten), and the carrots seem to be actually growing little carrots!

Ok, so now it's time for the metaphor, which I will do my best to approach without toxic positivity and privilege.

First, it sucks. We're disappointed. I put so much love into those seedlings, and most of them don't get to become actual vegetables. I'm angry at those a$$hole squirrels who seem to be ruining everything.

Maybe this is how we can think about activism, around the election or other causes that are important to us. When we don't get the outcome we were hoping for, it can be disappointing. Even crushing. It can be a harbinger of really bad things to come. It's understandable to be angry at the reasons that we didn't win (those damn squirrels!).

And.

Those squirrels were just being squirrels, unapologetically doing what they do. Now I know. Now I can be prepared. I can take anti-squirrel action for our spring garden. I can also avoid planting in the spots where rain water causes flooding.

I've learned so much about organizing and activism over the past year. I've learned how to behave (and how not to behave) on calls with lawmakers, and why. I've learned how to build coalitions and strategy. I've learned which of my friends and family members are interested in being in deep relationship with me, and which are not. I've learned how to organize safely. I've learned how to use my voice.

And.

There were some also victories. The carrots are still tiny, but they're growing. The mesclun greens are growing. The broccoli is thriving.

I love my activist communities and our coalitions. My life is so much richer because of them. They are safe. They are inspiring. My relationships with the family that cares enough to stay in it with me are deepening, which grounds me immensely. Changes are happening in the world. Maybe not as much in our national government, but all over the world, and in pockets of our world here in the US, changes are happening.

If we tend to each other, if we show up when people need support, if we stay committed and patient, and learn from our mistakes, we can create the world we want to live in, where everyone has the chance to thrive and live without fear. What can you tend to today?