Precious and Precarious

a pairing for these times

Unsplash: danielle-claude-belanger

The first time I used these two words together was after finishing a novel by Todd Johnson, The Sweet By and By. It is the story of two residents and various ones employed by the nursing center in which the two women live. Todd shared with me that his beautiful relationship with his two grandmothers was the genesis for the novel. I read it just after my mother had transitioned and found myself alternately laughing or teary.

I was remembering the times with my mother as she aged being both precious and precarious and shared that with Todd, thanking him for how he captured both in his writing.

Now, today and every day, in the fourth quarter of my life, I think of this pairing of words in relationship to living through this time in our country since the 2024 election. Precious and precarious are far more focused on the whole of the United States and even globally more than on my aging years.

It is interesting how, when I wrote about the story, the word precious came first.

As I thought about the past weeks and months since November, it’s as if I can’t decide which word comes first. Some mornings I wake up and immediately think “precarious.” Other mornings I wake up and feel or purposely choose to stay in “precious” to begin my day.

When “precious” begins my day, I tend to find myself more anchored to those things that sustain me no matter what. I lend my time after feeding the cat and my own breakfast to looking for what will lift me up and how I can serve others from that place. I more quickly pick up my journal and write a prayer or reflection that is, in a way, a vision for how I want to live the hours ahead of me.

When “precarious” begins my day, an undercurrent of fear and/or worry and descent into “How did we ever find ourselves here?” shows up. With that, it is easy to fall into the doomscrolling, looking at posts that support that question, one post leading to another. Even when written by those for whom I have deep respect in terms of historical and political knowledge, I feel like I am taken to more or a “raw” place.

I want to read those writers and depend on them for inspiration to action; however, I am better able to be inspired when delving into their words after grounding myself first.

So, what shows up for me in these two words, or perhaps one could say, categories? Here are just a few examples, knowing the expression of both could be pages long.

Precious:

· Life – being alive in this moment – breathing – walking – sleeping – waking – my senses - and being able to choose how to live my days

· My daughter – each day mindful of our beautiful connection and honoring how alike and how different we are – both – not taking these years for granted for they are going far too fast

· Friends – many of whom are at a geographical distance but easily accessible by phone or email or texting or Zoom – they are supports, and I relish the variety of personalities and viewpoints

· Nature – the beauty in front of me every single day from the tiniest web of water on plants after a rain to the majestic trees and expanse of sky that holds the galaxies

· Always animals -and yes, of course, my cat and all the cats I have ever had – each one still alive in my heart and mind, the current one making me laugh at her mysterious personality

· Faith – spiritually, in humanity, in the world, in the best sides of all of us, in myself, and I can see that the list here could go on and on

· Hearing – I choose this specifically because of wearing two hearing aids and knowing what I miss when they are not in and even when they are

· Books – all of mine have been packed for some weeks, thinking I was moving more immediately, and I realize the relationship I have with them and the ways I count on them to inform and guide me through the voices of the authors.

· My imagination – it often saves me

· Freedom – so, so, so, so precious and especially in these current moments realizing this cannot be taken for granted for even one minute

Precarious:

· I could attach something precarious in this time to all of the above in terms of how I might be individually impacted by decisions made by others who do not have my or any of our best interests at heart

· The thousands/millions losing their jobs without warning or cause and the impact on the lives of their families, prescription prices rising, Medicaid benefits and programs such as SNAP being cut (I have a dear friend who depends on both of these), behaviors of ICE (and as many say, if there is so much said about immigrants not working, why is ICE going into places of employment?), and the list goes on

· It brings tears to my eyes to even make this list because truly, this is a precarious time in this country for every single one of us, even those who voted for the current administration – all will be or are already impacted, physically, economically, and in many unseen ways

· We may have to make hard choices we never thought we ‘d have to make

· It is a deeply precarious time for those being summarily dismissed by virtue of race, gender, sexual orientation, and excruciating setbacks for DEI

· An endless list, so it feels

Thankfully, I had grounded first this morning, praying for this day and my place in it before even getting out of bed and then taking time to be with myself with pen and paper while sipping my coffee. I am so glad for those moments.

When I did look at the news, I was absolutely shocked at what jumped out at me and it made me feel nauseous and shaky.

Until just a week or so go I had never heard of Principles First, a conservative organization started by a Republican in 2019. I will not repeat all the principles here, but I urge you to go to this link and read them.

https://www.principlesfirst.us/principles/

This weekend the group held a conference in Washington DC, at which speakers from various political viewpoints came together on behalf of all of us. I regularly follow Glenn Kirschner on his YouTube channel as well as Brian Tyler Cohen hosting him on his own show. I have huge regard for Glenn because he knows the Constitution and the law inside out and is 150% committed to them, regardless.

Here is the news about the conference this weekend as they endured a bomb threat – please read this – a conservative group for whom the Constitution and the law are paramount receiving bomb threats (both at the conference site and individual’s homes, so it says) by those whose goal it is to take down democracy.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/23/principles-first-enrique-tarrio-bomb-threat

Precarious seems like a mild word after reading this and hearing Glenn speak about it.

So, my friends and readers, each day is this pairing – precious and precarious.

We cannot be silent. I know we are not all called to action in the same way but please do reflect on what part can be played as we hope and pray and take action to remain a free country, no matter all that needs to be fixed. What we are witness to at this time is the opposite.

I commit to being a stronger, more vocal voice for DEI. Also for protection of the LGBTQ+ community. As an ally, I feel a strong calling is to be a better one at this time.

Peace be with you. Peace be with us. I will be going to some of my metaphorical wells in the upcoming writings, sharing how we can dip to sustain ourselves and one another.

Finally, this performance by the US Army Chorus at the White House Governor’s dinner on the 22^nd. They are not bending and through song, ask us to join them.