The 13th Floor
In Buddhism, we say it takes a strong back and a soft front. It takes tremendous strength of the back to uphold yourself in the midst of conditions, and that is the mental quality of equanimity. But, it also takes a soft front, the capacity to really be open to the world as it is, to have an undefended heart. - Roshi Joan Halifax
If you have ever gotten into an elevator of a tall building in NYC, you may have noticed that there is no button for the 13th floor. One CityRealty survey of 629 buildings showed just 9% of buildings had a 13th floor call button. This is true in other places too. But that just means the 14th floor is the actually the 13th floor. Just because we are calling it something else doesn’t mean it is something else.
How many 13th Floors do you have in your life? I get it. It’s a coping mechanism that can be helpful, but so often it backfires for us, for those around us, for the world. Facing hard things with an open mind, open heart, and fierce will is critical. Roshi Joan Halifax, a Buddhist teacher I follow (who always kind of reminded me of my grandma, especially when her hair is short) talks about “Strong Back, Soft Front.” It’s a teaching that has been critical to me as work with people in distress or work to resist injustice or oppression or simply have a hard conversation.
Now we can no longer let this time be a 13th Floor. This is really happening.
I know that many of you are triggered in a way you have rarely or never been triggered. I know that many of you are various ranges of scared. I know that many of you are having a trauma response - fight, flight, or fright, and, many of you who have experienced trauma may be experiencing PTSD symptoms.
Drink some water. Be here in this moment.
I know I am. I freak out. I get caught up in my fear. And then I or someone helps me get back to center. I rely on my practices (those that take a little longer and those in the moment.)
Strong Back, Soft Front.
I am so sorry. This is incredibly difficult. On top of already difficult things we’re already experiencing that have nothing to do with the coup.
Take a few breaths.
Here is the thing - If you have any capacity, you must take action.
There is a lot of insane stuff happening. All you need to focus on is Elon Musk and what Trump (and everyone) is allowing him to do. Right now all the other stuff that is happening is noise.
Laser focus on getting this to stop. Do any or all of these things.
Call, email, or show up at your federal legislators’ offices or your governor’s or state legislators office. Flood the zone. If you live in a state with Republican politicians, this is especially important. You can use this call-in line to reach your member of Congress: 866-426-2631. [See more information below from Justice in Aging.]
Move your body.
Call your banks, mortgage companies, credit card companies, retirement funds - ask them how they are protecting your money and information because someone (Elon Musk) now has your personal information and your banking information and it is no longer protected. (And it has if you’ve ever given it to Treasury for your taxes it has been.) Go up the chain. I doubt the first person you talk to will be able to address this.
Make them understand that this is their problem. They need to protect.
Drink some more water.
Call your state’s consumer fraud division - tell them your personal information has been stolen. Explain that Elon Musk did it. Ask them what to do.
Stretch.
If you are in a union, call your union and tell them to do something. Unions are doing some awesome things.
Take a few deep breaths.
Because I work with older adults, may of whom are on Medicaid, I want to share this too.
Take Action Tomorrow, Feb. 6th!
· Join Justice in Aging and partners across the country to send a clear message to Congress: Don’t cut Medicaid! Use this call-in line to reach your member of Congress: 866-426-2631. [Add this to your message above.]
· Tell your representative to oppose any Medicaid cuts because seniors will be harmed. Medicaid is a lifeline for 80 million people, including over 7 million seniors and 12 million people with Medicare.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have to go to work and get on a call. I’ll send another email later today with some rest and recovery ideas.
I LOVE YOU. We are in this together.
Wade in the Water,Tracy K. Smith
for the Geechee Gullah Ring Shouters
One of the women greeted me.
I love you, she said. She didn’t
Know me, but I believed her,
And a terrible new ache
Rolled over in my chest,
Like in a room where the drapes
Have been swept back. I love you,
I love you, as she continued
Down the hall past other strangers,
Each feeling pierced suddenly
By pillars of heavy light.
I love you, throughout
The performance, in every
Handclap, every stomp.
I love you in the rusted iron
Chains someone was made
To drag until love let them be
Unclasped and left empty
In the center of the ring.
I love you in the water
Where they pretended to wade,
Singing that old blood-deep song
That dragged us to those banks
And cast us in. I love you,
The angles of it scraping at
Each throat, shouldering past
The swirling dust motes
In those beams of light
That whatever we now knew
We could let ourselves feel, knew
To climb. O Woods—O Dogs—
O Tree—O Gun—O Girl, run—
O Miraculous Many Gone—
O Lord—O Lord—O Lord—
Is this love the trouble you promised?
[originally written on 2.6.2025]
