A song of sorrow and strength during COVID-19.
Once again it’s 4am,
and I want to write a song.
For now, I’ll put these letters here,
‘bout days that feel so long.
Today, I think, like every day,
I want it all to end.
Not talkin’ ‘bout my life, of course,
but pain I cannot mend.
The loneliness is here for now, locking down my heart.
Deep and overwhelming, ever since the start that was
so sudden, solemn.
And took my breath away. …
Here’s how I did it.
I’ve been writing on Medium for more than two years now. In all this time, I’ve felt like the kid sister, perched at the top of the basement stairs, spying on all the older kids, trying to look chill while hoping to get noticed. And then, all that changed when I reviewed my earnings last week and realized — “Holy cow, I’ve already made 5 times what I earned last year — and it’s only November!”
We all start somewhere
A funny thing happens when you stick with something. Rather than just tell you about about my path, I’ll show you my actual numbers…
“That it didn’t work does not mean it didn’t happen.” — Ezra Klein
When I heard the news that Joe Biden had won the 2020 election, President Trump was golfing in Virginia.
Later, after watching Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris speak to the nation, I listened to a podcast episode about Joe Biden on The Ezra Klein Show. And it was only then that I realized what we’ve really just gone through — and what we just survived as a nation: a failed coup attempt.
Klein said, “So that is it. That is it. Donald Trump has lost the presidency. Joe Biden is the president-elect. I don’t know what to say about…
Last night I went out for pizza at UNION, a fantastic restaurant in my town of Evanston, Illinois. It’s known for bringing the community together.
There was an outdoor concert in full swing nearby, so finding a seat in the beer garden was pretty hard to do.
A woman apparently noticed me scanning the seat-yourself tables, then generously invited my date and me to join hers.
“We have room for you over there,” she said, pointing toward her husband.
How very much like an Evanstonian, I thought.
We joined them, though it turned out to be one of the most…
Take it from someone who knows.
If you’re struggling right now, I’m sorry, and I’d like to help. I’ve struggled, too, and know how dark life can sometimes feel.
My father was an alcoholic.
In the 1970s, my parents divorced.
In high school, I was sexually assaulted.
In 1993, I survived a fatal Amtrak crash.
In 1995 I lost my job.
In 2010, my father died.
In 2017, I divorced.
In 2018, my sister died. That same year, my car was stolen.
In 2019, I spent 10 days, including Christmas, in the hospital.
And in 2020, during a pandemic, I underwent major surgery.
Trust me, there’s…
In 250 words or less, share your story here. Where were you? How did you feel? What do you hope happens next? We’ll add some of your responses to this living article.
At this critical time in history, we’re collecting reactions to the Biden/Harris victory, and we’ll post some of them in this living article.
In 250 words or less, share your story in the comments section below, or enter it in this Google Doc. If you need help starting, please consider these prompts:
- Where were you?
- How did you feel?
- What do you hope happens next?
- What role did you play (if any) in the election?
- How old are you?
- What party are you affiliated with?
- What have these last 4 years meant for you?
- What kind of hope do you…
Focused on the journey, not just the outcome.
Hello!
Thank you for being a part of this community.
I’m Christine Wolf, Founder and Editor of Women This Way, a digital publication on Medium.com about real women, real stories, and navigation for success.
I launched Women This Way in 2019 as a way to help empower and elevate voices that need to be heard — and I’m thrilled to see our vital community growing every day.
What We Write About
We publish stories about real women and their lives.
Our topics include resilience, survival, vulnerability and mental health, and we’re always in search of more. …
#8: “Hate to break it to you, but I will kick your ass.”
If I ran into President Donald J. Trump in an alley today, this is what I’d want to say:
1. “The company you keep is creepy.”
So you’ve partied with Jeffrey Epstein? You’re endorsed by White supremacy groups and far right extremists? You’ve appointed Cabinet members who aren’t even qualified for their jobs? While these are clearly deal breakers, the way you express your feelings about women — particularly your own female children — is what makes my skin crawl most.
2. “You’ve made us the laughingstock of the world.”
In your overzealous efforts to project confidence, strength and power, you’ve alienated most allies and countless Americans — even those who formerly stood with you…
The loneliness epidemic is real, and so is your ultimate superpower: CHANGE.
The Loneliness Epidemic Is Real
Surely you’ve heard about the scientific evidence showing that isolation, quarantines, lockdowns and social distancing can leave us feeling more than just secluded, alienated, empty or lonely. By now, you know these factors pose serious, long-term threats to both our physical and emotional health.
After all, we’re almost a year into a global pandemic, one steered by a rudderless administration blatantly ignoring the ongoing — and catastrophic — waves of concern and discontent. …
The answers may be darker than you think.
As the parent of a suburban Chicago high schooler whose education is currently 100% remote, I’m grateful our superintendent made the decision to prioritize the health and safety of our entire community over any demands to reopen during a global pandemic.
But recently, a friend requested that I share his urgent story about a nearby suburban Chicago high school just one town north of ours. He asked that I not share his name (or his family’s), and in a moment, you’ll understand why. I’ll refer to him as Bob.
“Please Don’t Share Our Real Names”
Bob tells me that their partner, who teaches at nearby New…
