Donald Trump has been president a little over a week now.  I don’t recognize the world anymore.  I am wondering what to do now, because it doesn’t seem right to continue doing normal things. How can I go to Costco and browse when Muslim scientists are being denied entry into the country?  How can we watch movies on Friday night, buy pizza, ski on a beautiful sunny morning when refugees are turned away and “alternative facts” are preached as truth?

Here are other things that don’t matter much anymore: the Super Bowl. Shoe trends. Brad Pitt’s dating life. Oscar nominees. All of this was interesting before.  Now, it seems unimportant, trivial, even distracting. When I check my Facebook feed, I am so consumed by the news of each new executive order, that when something unrelated shows up, it makes me crabby, especially ads. You want me to buy your Doctor Who shirt now, or subscribe to your better living podcast, when the world as we know it is changing right before us? Have you lost your mind?

I worry about the international students, home in their native countries for winter break, who can’t get back to their classes and lives here.  Or the Syrian families, approved and vetted, finally slated for arrival, who are told when they are on the plane that they are not wanted after years of waiting.  A friend told me about a Syrian family who delayed their trip here so they could attend their daughter’s wedding. It was just a few days. Now, it seems like they might never be able to come.

I can’t go on like everything is all right. I can’t feel a little bad, shake it off, then head to the mall.

One of my neighbors is starting a political action group. A few people in our little town will meet for the first time at her house Thursday. I have never been part of a political group before. I have to go now. I am hoping that nationwide there will be thousands of new groups like this, full of people like me who are stunned, shaken, and no longer able to feel better by binge watching a season of “Once Upon a Time” on Netflix.

I am still practicing centering prayer through this, and am trying to drop below my angst and be still.  Underneath, there is quiet. Always. So today. Today, what are my hooks? Clearly, I am insecure about the future, and deeply aware of my lack of power. I am not in control of any of this, of Trump or the Republicans, who seem so gleeful for their current state of power that they don’t seem to care about the suffering Trump’s orders will cause.

One of my favorite places on the internet is the website for the Center for Action and Contemplation.  Franciscan father Richard Rohr founded the center, and often talks about how contemplation should lead to action, that prayer is just part of our call.  Sometimes, I’m aware of Jesus meeting me in the silence of my centering prayer times. Actually, he is always there. I just often miss him, because I am easily distracted and move from my sacred word to my grocery list.  When Jesus has my attention, though, at the end of my prayer time, he taps me on my shoulder and tells me it’s time for us to move along.  He reminds me that he was a big fan of refugees, prisoners, and small things like flowers and birds.  The powerful and religious establishment? Not so much.  I love that about Jesus. I think Jesus might even appreciate our little political action group and show up there.  It seems like a good start. Who knows what we will do.

Things to remember at the end of the world.

When the world is ending, or you are afraid that it might end, or the country has come under the leadership of a misogynistic, racist, climate-change denying, money and power worshiping wall builder, there are things to do.  Think of this as a little list, a card plucked from the seat back in front of you, the one with helpful instructions for survival as the plane is plummeting.

Of course, this list is my list. Yours will be different. It’s incomplete and rough.  But it helps me remember that there are things I can do everyday that keep me moving, that give me perspective, that anchor me in truth.  The main thing: Donald Trump is not God. This is good to bring to mind on cold mornings when I wake up with a sick stomach, thinking about the news from the day before, especially when there is little hope that it will improve anytime soon.

On those mornings, I try to remember , in no particular order, to:

Drink some extra water. Maybe add lemon. Have a cup of tea. Skip the sugar.  Sugar is not my friend.

Go outside. Marvel at the water that has poured out of the sky, water that has made a creek in the backyard where there didn’t used to be one. Find the little boat left over from the kids’ preschool years and put some Lego guys in it. Launch them out on a new adventure.

Feed the birds. There are several feeders outside, some with seed, some for hummingbirds. They weren’t expensive. They bring so much joy. Watch the birds- stellar jays chickadees, and finches. See how they share and make room for each other. Listen to them sing.

Cook some real food, something that smells wonderful and can go in the crock pot in the morning.  Curry or vegetable soup are favorites.

Visit the library.  Look at the rows and rows of books and realize that there is still a lot to learn.  Find a book on chowders, and vow to cook something new tonight.  Listen to the librarians at the desk behind you, so polite to everyone who comes through. Even the people who try their patience and make you a little crazy. Watch the mothers bring in their toddlers for story time, and give thanks for books that tell truth in picture form.

Take a spoonful or two of coconut oil.  Coconut oil is full of healthy fats, they say. It’s brain food. This is more important than ever.

Read the daily Ziglar self-talk affirmations.  Print them for free from the Ziglar website.  Zig said to read them twice a day, first thing in the morning and last thing before bed.  The affirmations remind all of us that we are honest, intelligent, organized, responsible, committed and teachable.  Try not to think too much about how the news would be different if Trump was more like Zig.

Exercise. Outside if possible.

Text a friend. Call a friend.  At the same time,  limit social media. Repeated scrolling through the news on my Facebook feed just makes me sad.  I want to be aware, but compulsive checking can’t be helpful. Trump is only doing what he said he would do.  The Republicans are doing what they promised, too. It breaks my heart that part of that promise includes repealing regulations that protect forests and streams from coal mining. Because clearly that’s just horrible, right?

Go to bed. Get some extra sleep.

Get up early. Center. Journal.

And this. Always this.  Don’t be afraid.  I remind myself that we are in this together.  I remember that I am not alone.

What would you add? What practices are your touchstones these days?