Post-Inaugural Blues

Hi Guys! Happy Monday:)

We’ve managed to make it to another week. *Insert applause.* Got any exciting plans?

My week will primarily involve coder training for my dissertation. I know it doesn’t sound super exciting, but it’s the last big hurdle that I have to clear in conducting my research. I’ll be holding the first one on Wednesday, and I’m praying that everything goes smoothly so that I can stay on track with my May graduation timeline. I swear that a mixture of excitement, stress, and anxiety is my default emotional state these days.

Now. I could twiddle my thumbs and play coy about what’s happened in the past few days, but I’d rather not. So let’s just go ahead and address the elephant in the room.

The inauguration. Did anybody watch it?

I didn’t. I made a conscious decision not to. I wasn’t interested in witnessing this exchange of power because of the particular hands in which power was being placed. On a side note, I have indulged in the countless Michelle Obama side eye memes because they are amazing. It’s crazy how differently I felt in 2009 and 2013. You couldn’t pull me away from inaugural coverage.

Needless to say this past Friday was hard for me (as was the whole weekend and arguably the next four years).

Now the obvious historical significance of Barack Obama’s presidency was not lost on me. I knew seeing him leave office was going to be difficult regardless of who his successor was. Having a black man for a president has been my reality for my entire adult life. Politics aside, the grace that he and the First Family displayed during their tenure in the White House was undeniable and incredibly inspiring to me and millions of others.

For anyone who came after him I would have to go through an adjustment period. The real question was how hard of an adjustment period I would have. The answer became excruciatingly painful on the morning of November 9 – it was going to be hellish. Any arguable progress that we had made as a country seemed to all be unraveling at such a remarkable speed. Literally. Look at who he’s already put in his Cabinet, and how fast this administration is preparing to dismantle the Affordable Care Act (aka “Obamacare” for the less discerning among us).

So what am I doing? I’m putting on my big girl panties, smiling, and getting to work. Because the truth of the matter is, there’s no viable alternative. Mama’s got ish to do. Whether it be writing letters to state legislature, mentoring youth in underserved communities, or volunteering with campaigning efforts during the midterm elections, I’m responding to the call to action that Obama left us with in his speeches during his last days in office. We’ve got work to do.

And while we can’t retroactively atone for inaction and poor decisions, we can make certain not to perpetuate these choices moving forward.

And in true Chi style, I’ll be pounding the pavement in style because, as I mentioned earlier, there’s no other alternative. At least not for me:)

So that’s how I’m coping with post-inaugural blues. And if you’re wondering why I’m smiling in these pictures, it’s because I have an awesome big sister who graciously took these photos of me after church one Sunday. I believe that good style should be documented and my sis agrees.

I hope you all have a week as awesome as my sister!