Lent 2025 Day 22: Mindful Resistance

“The best way to look back at life fondly is to meet it—and those along your journey—warmly, kindly and mindfully.” — Rasheed Ogunlaru 

Living mindfully isn’t easy. But what does it really mean? The best way I’ve found to explain it is through something simple: washing a dish. When you're washing a dish mindfully, you're focused solely on that act—the feel of the soap, the water, the texture of the dish in your hand. You’re in the moment. Nothing else exists.

Researchers have shown that multitasking actually reduces productivity. Our brains can only fully focus on one complex task at a time. Think about trying to write an email while on a call. You’re either focused on what you’re typing or what the other person is saying—not both. That can lead to mistakes, like sending the wrong message or missing key information. We know this, yet we multitask constantly.

I’ve always had intense focus. At work, I’d often ask for a few minutes to finish what I was doing before giving someone my full attention. Our time and presence are the most valuable things we can offer others. That’s something law school reinforces every day. Most of my time is spent reading, briefing cases, memorizing principles, and working through complex hypotheticals. It’s demanding, but it's the perfect environment for me to lean into that focus—and to learn how to better manage my time and energy. It’s daunting, but I hope all this effort leads to a fulfilling career… and not just a mountain of student debt.

Meanwhile, three months into this new administration, we're already seeing harmful impacts—especially on federal workers and those relying on social services. The chaos, censorship, and calculated distractions are deliberate. Policies that criminalize dissent are increasing. State secrets are being leaked on group chats while lawmakers focus on controlling who uses which bathroom. And let’s be honest: Pete Hegseth has a Yahtzee tattoo. It's not a metaphor. We are witnessing echoes of pre-Civil War America, Jim Crow, The Handmaid’s Tale, and 1930s Germany all wrapped up in red, white, and blue. 

In the face of all this, we must be kind—to ourselves and to each other. Because no, we are not fine. And that’s okay to admit. There is no playbook for surviving a time like this. But I’m doing the best I can. When I look back on this moment in history, I want to feel proud of how I showed up.

As someone who has spent their life underestimated, marginalized, and dismissed, my advice to those waking up to this reality is simple: Keep pushing. Don’t stop until we win. They’re hoping we’ll give up. Let’s not be the ones who tire first. 

Keep resisting. Keep existing. Keep pushing toward justice. When we look back, may we all feel good about our part in this fight. Because protecting democracy is one of the most American things we can do. 

Lenten Reflection: Showing Up with Presence and Purpose 🕊️ 

"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." — Galatians 6:2 

This Lent, ask yourself: 

🔹Am I meeting others along my journey with warmth, kindness, and presence? 

🔹Where am I distracted, and how can I return to the moment? 

🔹Who can I offer my undivided attention to today? 

🔹How can I show up for others and for justice in ways that matter? 

Being mindful isn’t just about stillness—it’s about showing up fully in the present, ready to act with love. Let us meet this world with courage, kindness, and conviction. That is our resistance. That is our offering. That is how we will look back and feel proud. 

Take care of yourselves. And take care of each other. 

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