There’s No Magic Bullet

And a pants update

It feels strange to be sending an email this morning, especially one that was written by a past version of myself. The person who wrote this email did not know the results of the 2024 US Presidential election—although I guess it is likely that my present self doesn’t know either. And not knowing is making it hard for me to talk much about clothes, even though I got dressed today and I will again tomorrow.

Sean Murphy, Getty Images

Do you know this Zen saying?

Before enlightenment, chop wood carry water.
After enlightenment, chop wood carry water.

I think there are different ways to interpret this, but I guess the one that is resonating with me today is that huge shifts can take place within us and outside of us, but the day-to-day actions, the things that actually matter, stay the same.

Before election, chop wood carry water.
After election, chop wood carry water.¹

Whatever happened yesterday, whatever happens today, let’s continue to take care of the people around us, to fight climate change, to try and stop war. Those things are the chopping wood and carrying water, right? A president can make things better or worse (or both) for us, but whether or not Harris wins, things are not really okay.

I’m also thinking about this quote from Octavia Butler:

There’s no single answer that will solve all of our future problems. There’s no magic bullet. Instead there are thousands of answers—at least. You can be one of them if you choose to be.

And here are some things I am doing today:

• Getting involved with and sending money to local mutual aid groups (for me, ABQ Mutual Aid and Freewheel Mobile Aid)

• Paying attention to local politics.

• Making donations to Pueblo Action Alliance, The Mariposa Fund, and The Sunrise Movement.

I’d love to know if you have ideas or thoughts about where you’re putting your focus / energy / time / money now that the election is over but we have to keep fighting for the things we believe in.

Next week I promise will be back to my regular clothes-focused programming. In the meantime, here are a few fashion-y tidbits:

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I now have three different pieces from the Jordan x Universal Standard collab and they are all GREAT. The sweatshirt is the softest thing I have ever put on my body, but it’s not fleece-y so it feels like it will last. The tank is the perfect cropped length and I love that it has a high neck. It will be good in the summer or under sweaters this winter. And the jeans are also lovely and soft and I adore that they have a drawstring! They originally sent me the tank and jeans and I liked them so much that I ordered another tank and the sweatshirt. And now I kind of want the matching sweatpants!

Jordan X US Sweatshirt, Connally Goods Jeans

I just got these jeans from Connally Goods which I preordered a couple months ago and I have been getting a LOT of compliments when I wear them. They have a nice barrel leg shape and feel very loose and breezy to wear which is perfect in conjunction with the more structured denim. I also like the combo of elasticized waist with a zipper fly and button. As we established, I do not need more pants. But if I did… I’d want another pair of these!

Lastly, you can see me here on Cup of Jo talking about my favorite denim shirt.

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1. Speaking of this, there is a cool Substack called Chop Wood, Carry Water that gives you easy daily political actions.