I found this morning’s news devastating, as I imagine most of the community here will have done.
Despair, sadness, anger, fear. No need to elucidate further.
I’m finding some consolation in the solidarity within my Social Media community right now, so far away from home as I am, right now, here in Marrakech. Many posts and stories and messages sharing shock and dismay — and acknowledging an individual and a collective need to express and process our feelings. Along with that, I’m comforted by those who advise taking time for self-care as a profound and authentic response which will, when we’re ready, allow us to move back to the work our communities, our countries, and our world need from us.
And although at first it seemed to me impossible to post about my privileged travels, in the face of such drastic news, I am claiming this space today as self-care. A reminder to myself — and to any of you to whom this might be relevant or useful or pleasing — that there continues to be so much beauty and goodness in the world. Yes, this risks being a facile, privileged, tra-la-la dismissal of the very serious consequences of yesterday’s political choice. So be it. I will take that risk today, and hope you might find some small aesthetic pleasure here in these simple photos taken at a beautifully presented breakfast in our riad in Marrakech yesterday morning, when we were still filled with hope.
May that hope return before too long.
May it be a hope coupled with discernment for what is possible in this new landscape.
May we be able to draw on the hope and strength and connection that have grown over the last months as artists and writers and activists, knitters and menders and yogis and mothers and fathers and musicians and athletes shared and combined their creativity in exciting and powerful ways.
May we gradually restore faith alongside our hope. . . .
But until then, as we grieve and fret and fear, may we distract ourselves and nourish ourselves and calm ourselves with the beauty and joy that surrounds us. . .
I know that I’m particularly lucky right now to be in a place that offers me so much of this beauty — a place full of wild, chaotic, generous, messy, marvellous distraction.
but I remind myself that although it exists in very different forms, colours, textures and registers back home, beauty — and joy! on the daily! — exist back home as well. And that being attentive to it, taking the time to nurture myself with it, is not mere self-indulgence.
It’s also my work right now. Our work, perhaps. Working to get ourselves back in shape to Hope Again.
Okay, that’s all.
Take care of yourselves,
xo,
f
p.s. As long as your words are thoughtful and kind, comments are welcome here — and I will moderate the space to be sure we are supporting each other as needed right now.
Thank you for the comforting visuals and words of encouragement. I am grieving today for my country and its majority of citizens who have in my eyes, abandoned common decency as a bare minimum requirement for public service. The warped policies are yet to be realized. We will take today to come to acceptance and then begin again to work for the good of all——.
Heartbroken and afraid. Not often glad to be 80 but today I’m happy not to be young and look toward what we’ve become. The poor world.
Thank you so much for your words of hope and comfort. As an American I awakened this morning with a profound sense of loss, sadness and dread, and thoughts that our “better angels” have abandoned too many of my fellow citizens.
Beautiful words, glorious photos, enviable trip! I think it is going to take me more than a day or two to grieve the darkness that over 50% of our citizens chose. Hopefully my heart will be ready to carry-on soon, meantime, we are planning a trip to Paris to be away for January 20.
Smart idea. Be away for the spectacle. Only wish I could do the same.
Thank you so much for sharing the beauty surrounding you and your kind words of consolation in this very, very difficult time. Honestly, I am shocked, devastated and so very worried—for my family (especially my young granddaughters), for my country and for the world. But after a brief rest we need to continue to work for change. We will find the strength together.
it’s been a tough day. So much fear, for my family, the county, the planet. Thank you for the reminder that there is always beauty and that I am not alone.
Thank you for claiming this space today. It is definitely the antidote I needed – to see beauty and joy; to feel hope, strength and connection; to know there is goodness in the world.
It helps with balancing the fear, confusion, anxiety, bewilderment I’m feeling.
I hope you enjoy the colours of Marrakesh. It has always fascinated me (from afar).
Thank you, this is lovely and hopefully will be comforting. I am trying to remember that it is not more than half of our citizens who have abandoned decency and good sense, only more than half of those who voted. Not helping yet, but maybe someday.
Ceci
Ceci, thank you for that reminder. Along with Frances’ post today, that gives me the glimmer of hope I needed.
Thank you for providing this sense of community that is so needed today. I appreciate your reminder to look hard and pay attention to those small moments of beauty and joy. Today truly felt like a day of mourning.
On a day when so many of us are finding it hard to hang onto hope, thank you for reminding us not to let go in despair, but to notice the beauty that still surrounds us and to be nurtured by it.
Thank you Frances, for a beautiful post. Just what I needed to read today when I’m so sad. At least I’m not shocked at the outcome this time, so I feel better than I did in 2016. Today I’m allowing myself to feel the sadness and discomfort (resistance is futile as some enemy aliens were fond of saying in Star Trek 😂). And then I will actively look for distraction, beauty and kindness, and pop those good things into my pockets to restore my spirits. At the same time I will do everything I can within my sphere of influence to make things better. I’m starting by making a donation to a local charity for women and children.
Marrakech is so beautiful and utterly different to what I’ve ever experienced – enjoy!
Thank you Frances,beautiful photos and calming words!
Sadly, so true and it affects all of us,in one way or another
Dottoressa
Beautiful photos. Thoughtful words. Still reeling from the shock and focusing on the small things today: the beauty of an egg, my mahonia flowering. Grouse pecking quietly in the field.
Thank you for your words and for fostering a positive and vibrant community here. I’m so, so sad and afraid. I got through yesterday by reminding myself that there are still people who need me to be kind to them. So trying to put one foot in front of the other and keep trying to do what good I can.
Thank you, Frances. I am so incredibly sad today. It will take some time for me to recover from the deep sense of disappointment I have toward my fellow citizens who willingly accepted hate and ugliness. Your beautiful photos and comforting words are a perfect antidote — I know I shall return to this post frequently.
I don’t understand the choice so many made. Words fail.
Thank you, your pictures are beautiful. How wonderful to be in Morrocco, another place I would love to visit.
Thank you ~
I wasn’t at all surprised at the result but none the less dismayed. It was a fingers-crossed experience here in the UK when we held our own recent elections and I am watching our present administration very carefully. And our opposition party because they might well be emboldened. Hold the line.
Thank you for your post! I had expected this outcome, although, of course, I had hoped it might just be avoided. It coincided with a government crisis in my country, where the forces of violence and hatred are also trying to occupy ever larger spaces in public discourse. Yes, beauty certainly helps when it comes to regrouping and collecting our energies in order to continue to stand up for kindness and justice.