What gives you hope

Welcome back, Shit Givers.

Sometimes writing a newsletter from your home office in a small town on the edge of Canada can be a bit isolating (most of my daily interactions are limited to either a Zoom call with Quinn, and/or scream-singing “Pink Pony Club” at my greyhound, Daryl.)

And when your work involves reading and writing and thinking about all of the many catastrophes coming at us from all directions, all of the time (even in your isolated little Canadian town), posting on the internet can often feel like you’re shouting into the void.

Which is why, often, one of the best parts of my week is receiving feedback and thoughtful responses from all of you.

Community is more important than ever, and it’s really something we’re trying to be more and more intentional about building here.

When you respond to a poll, or send us an email, it really helps remind us why we’re doing this, so first of all: thank you. 99% of your messages are thoughtful and supportive (yes, of course we get the occasional “fuck you, liberal” comment, but that’s par for the course).

Anyways, I’m bringing this all up today, because last week we ran a poll in It’s Called Science asking all of you how you maintain hope during challenging times (which in 2025, is all of the fucking time, I guess). I found reading all of your responses really cathartic and helpful, so I wanted to share them all with you too.

I already shared the results in Monday’s newsletter but just in case you missed it, your responses broke down like this (at least at the time of me posting this, the poll is still live):

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Small personal wins (24%)

🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ Community action (18%)

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Historical perspective (8%)

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Creative expression (5%)

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Spiritual/mindfulness practices (24%)

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Seeing others' activism (13%)

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Gallows humor (8%)

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Something else (please share!)

Here are some of your comments in the poll (some categories did not include any comments and that’s why they are missing below):

💅 Small personal wins

“It's hard to focus on the big loses all the time. It's also not as satisfying to watch a big win. The personal victories matter more to oneself. Having a personal stake matters.”

“The victor in any battle, be it for hearts or mind, is he who holds their head about them when all others are losing theirs!!! I believe it was a Churchill quip?”

🤝 Community action

“Making my community better with small wins, my personal/where I live community and my work community.”

“Community action with muscle, vigor and humor.”

“We have a grassroots but getting more and more organized by the day group of women who understand the assignment.”

📜 Historical perspective

“I am old enough to have lived thru ups and downs and recessions and was born during the GREAT DEPRESSION. Patience is a virtue and whatever snarls the stock market and commerce will eventually work itself out.”

🧘 Spiritual/mindfulness practices

“Going outdoors for a walk or hike; enjoy the beauty of nature.”

“Connecting with like minded people and exploring positive actions that can be taken.”

“Knowing self talk and gratitude for life can change my outlook on everyday to being alive is a blessing🙌”

“I have never prayed this much in my life, trying to allow my faith in God to overcome my fear of this nation's future under the current tyranny.”

💪 Seeing others’ activism

“I am currently a mess. I can’t believe what is happening to our country and that more people aren’t outraged! The only thing I know to do is be with like minded people and to participate in any activity that supports the dismissal of the actions that have been taken by our president and Elon Musk - the greediest person in the world. ”

“Also, I'm 71 and I've been through a lot in my life. I have hope because I've gotten through it all and the country has as well. I don't know that its been as bad as this in my lifetime, but I do know that the pendulum always swings back. Plus...my favorite from science class...Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. ”

“Knowing I'm not alone, and belong to a community trying to take action wherever possible.”

That’s it for this week.

If you have anything else you’d like to add to this poll, or anything else you’d like to see in future polls or newsletters, or literally anything else you’d like to share (recipes, music recommendations, pictures of your dog, I’ll take it), please respond to this email!

Thanks for all the reminders that none of us are in this alone.

—Willow