Today we recover. Tomorrow we get loud!

I have the worst hangover. Not one from champagne toasts celebrating the election of our first female President but one from the emotional exhaustion of defeat. From a night of tears, sadness, and loss. Yesterday we woke up with dreams of continuing the progress the Obama administration made and full of hope for our children, our vulnerable, our environment, our nation. Yesterday we believed that we could make progress on poverty, climate change, women's rights, and education, We believed the Supreme Court would become more progressive, that Obama Care would continue to be refined (not eliminated), and that we'd make college more accessible and affordable.

Today we wake up with the reality that fear did trump love in this election. That the glass ceiling won't be shattered this year. That there are millions of people who believe that America isn't great for them and that a President Trump will fix that. Today we see that racism and sexismmay be even worse than we thought - we should be angry about that.

Like more than 50% of voters, I'm beyond disappointed. I'm angry that I didn't do more to get her elected. I'm frustrated that we didn't listen ( listen to understand) to our fellow citizens who went to Trump rallies and expressed so much fear, I'm sad for the opportunities we have lost.

But I'm ready to fight. Ready to fight to protect funding for Planned Parenthood. To protect Obama Care. To make sure our country remains welcoming to immigrants and refugees. I'm ready to fight for people who are homeless and hungry and ready to fight to protect our environment. I'm ready to talk about how we fund and support advocacy efforts and resistance efforts that shake the status quo..

 I'm ready to fight because we have no other choice! 

But our tactics need to change. We need to take a page from our Republican neighbors and leaders. . The people who blocked Supreme Court decisions, who prevented access to reproductive rights, who put limits on Food Stamps and other safety-net programs. We need to organize, not take no for an answer, and fight harder than we ever have before/. Our future in in front of us and we need to seize the opportunity to protect what we believe makes America great.

A few ways to get involved:

- Elect progressive leaders via Emily's List or Amplify

- Check out the Our100 Movement

- Get involved in the  Black Lives Matter movement.

- Donate to Planned Parenthood

- Dedicate a year of service through AmeriCorps

Let's get loud and then louder.