Joy is a Radical Act

And so it is done.

This feels different than the first time.

Because we know what’s coming. There is no doubt that promises will be kept.

Will it be as bad as we think it will? Yes.

Will our democracy no longer be a democracy? Yes.

Will communities be ripped apart? Yes.

Will we lose our rights? Yes.

Will people die? Yes.

This is the country in which we now live.

Right now I’m training in clown at Ecole Philippe Gaulier. This morning the Americans in the class and most everyone else walked into class crying and holding each other. This group of humans is the most empathetic and supportive clown group I’ve ever had the pleasure to know. This is lucky. We sat down to an exercise and I was flooded with the thought that perhaps I won’t board my flight to the U.S. on Saturday.

But when I go quiet and present in the room I remembered where I was: in a school started by an anti-fascist activist, studying an art form that is the most basic form of anti-fascist resistance. In this course we’re challenge to emanate joy from our eyes + hearts to the audience as if there’s 1,000 people watching. The goal is to have your joy be so powerful each of those 1,000 receives it.

In this moment, joy is a radical act. Holding that space within us and for our audience will forever be the spark that authoritarians want to stamp out. But we must not let them.

In that moment on the floor I renewed my dedication to sharing my light with you.

I’m going to get on that plane on Saturday to continue on.

Take care of yourself and perhaps let yourself look up at the sky and feel at least a fleeting moment of joy, because that is something they can never take from you.

I love you.