March in Michigan

March in Michigan is seemingly mirroring the cultural moment. One day it's 65 and sunny and the next it's 25 and snowing. One day we hear news we dislike and the next we hear news we cheer. We Michiganders know how to ride out a March, and perhaps our weather resilience can serve as a model for how to ride the current cultural moment.

1. Embrace hope: As Michiganders we believe in the hope of summer months, and that hope is what gets us through the winter. We know that we have incredible summer weather on the horizon, and by remembering the impermanence of the moment, we remember that we have the strength to last another snowy day. Hope is not some abstract idea, though. It is a well-researched intervention that has shown the power to change, improve mental as well as physical wellbeing (Steffen, L. E., et al., Supportive Care in Cancer, Vol. 28, 2020). Hope is also active. We aren't wishing our way to summer because we know that daydreaming simply distracts us from our real life. Instead, we are taking the proactive steps to make it through every day, knowing that on the other side is warmer weather. We need to live in reality while recognizing that our current view has not always been and will not always be.

2. Properly eat the elephant: Okay, I never quite understood this analogy because I personally would never want to eat an elephant, but in Michigan, if we focus on the length of winter as a whole, we become immediately depressed. Instead, we chunk it out in our minds. We take the small bites of winter. Think about how you too can take the small bites right now. Read the news but don't consume it. Stay up-to-date with decisions being made but don't obsess over them. Make actions plans for this week, not the next four years. Set obtainable goals.

3. Take breaks: This is a privileged position, but if you have this privilege, I highly encourage you to embrace the break. From a Michigander's point of view, this is often Spring Break when most of Florida's coastal hotels and rentals are filled with a Michigander. I recognize, though, that having the financial resources to find somewhere warm for a week is a privilege, and I recognize that some people in our country–whether because of race, identity, or profession–do not have the privilege of taking a break from the chaos of the moment. However, finding the small moments to take mental or physical breaks is important. Try shutting your phone off for a day a month or taking a news fast for a few days. The break allows you to regain your strength for the rest of the journey.

I'm writing this on a snowy March day in Michigan, and while I have no intention of venturing out for a long period of time, I am committed to not letting the chaotic winter weather prevent me from living my life. Similarly, I have decided to not let the chaos of our current cultural moment prevent me from showing up in my life in the ways I desire. I hope the same for you.

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