I want to sound an optimistic tone to end a week that has seen so many egregious events. Someone else already said it better than I, so I am attaching Walter Shaub’s instructions below. (He is an attorney specializing in government ethics, and was the director of the United States Office of Government Ethics under Obama.)

I am interspersing them with birds from this week, all photographed before, during or after action, showing us how it’s done.

W.S.: “I have some suggestions for folks feeling overwhelmed by the assault on democracy.

First, take action. Any action in defense of democracy. Make a very small donation, even just a dollar, to something; sign up to volunteer for one hour, go learn how to register voters, go to a meeting of a group fighting for democracy; hand out literature; sign up to send postcards encouraging voters to show up and vote (just vote, no need to worry about for whom); sign up to be an election official; ask people for suggestions for other actions you can take.

Second, if that doesn’t make you feel better, do it again. Do it again after that. Do it some more. Action is a key to feeling better. If it’s not working, the remedy is likely more action, not less. Be be action oriented.

Third, bring in the horizon a little closer. Put the future out of your mind. It’s not here yet. Borrowing pain from the future doesn’t help. Instead, bring the horizon in to THIS day. We can control only this day. Let’s ask ourselves what we can do today, and do it!

Fourth, take breaks if needed. Everyone has a bad day. Stay off Twitter on those days. Twitter is a festering wound that rots joy. Get outside, read a book, watch an idiotic comedy you’d be ashamed to admit to watching for fear people would think you stupid, or whatever helps.

Fifth, refrain from posting discouraging comments on Twitter. Don’t add poison to the festering wound. We can take turns carrying the baton, but it makes no sense to fling demoralization bombs at those carrying the baton for you.

Sixth, find sources of inspiration. For some, that might be listening to speeches of strong historical figures, for others it might be reading about acts of courage. Seek out examples of people overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds. They exist!

Seventh, again, TAKE ACTION. Any action. It’s not big things that will save us. It’s persistent small actions carried out by one individual, and another, and another and another across the nation. Change comes not from waiting for Some Big Action but from building momentum.

Eighth, believe democracy prevails if we fight for it. Choose belief. Great feats follow belief. I haven’t seen anyone accomplish a thing they didn’t believe they could achieve. Maybe it has happened, but I haven’t seen it. Ignore doubts. Believe! Then, fight for democracy!”

*

Hey, with sufficient momentum we might arrive at the color blue, in all this darkness….

This will cheer you up as well (and motivate, if you make it through the second movement without tears) – Mozart’s concerto # 23 in A major (K 488) – hope clad in notes.