How Do We Keep Creating in Heavy Times? Joy, Resistance, and the Power of Art

It’s only February, and yet this year already feels heavier than the last. In some ways, it has also been brighter. Both can be true.

Like many of you, I’ve been carrying the weight of our political climate,  the uncertainty, the cruelty, the policies that impact real families in real ways. I think about the people in detention facilities, the children separated from their families, the staggering number of detainees with no criminal record. The grief and anger feel enormous, sometimes paralyzing.

And then the question becomes: What do we do?

We protest when we can. We support the vulnerable. We boycott where our dollars matter. We show up for our families. We go to work. We pay bills. We make dinner. We live.

And still, some days it feels like no one is coming to save us.

In that heaviness, I have struggled to write. I’ve asked myself: What is the point of creating when so much feels like it’s burning? When there are literal and metaphorical fires consuming communities? When sitting with the pain feels overwhelming?

But here’s the deeper question that keeps me going:

Do we allow the oppressor to steal our joy, our creativity, our voice?

I don’t pretend to have the answers. I’m taking this day by day, just like many of you.

What I do know is this: joy is not frivolous. Joy is resistance.

I think of Chingona comedian Cristela Alonzo who says we must continue to experience joy, joy as rebellion. That idea sits with me. It steadies me. Choosing joy, art, and connection is survival.

And then there’s art. Art as activism. Art as social commentary. Art as truth telling. When I return to this space I allow myself to imagine, write, create. I feel the dread lift slightly. Inspiration flickers again.

And something like a halftime show by Bad Bunny becomes symbolic. Representation matters. Culture matters. Seeing artistry take up space matters. The backlash reminds us that visibility is powerful. Collective expression is powerful.

And so, in my world, I’m trying to lean back into creativity.

I received my first royalty check for my book, You Are Not Your GPA, and that moment felt deeply affirming. Thank you to everyone who has supported it. Truly. Moving forward, I’m continuing my work to provide clear, relevant guidance to high school students of color navigating the college application process and preparing for university spaces that are not always equitable or welcoming. Information is power.

I’ve also decided to channel this angst into action through my podcast, Chingonas in Life. I want to invite activists, organizers, and community members to share their stories and practical wisdom. If we can’t control everything happening around us, we can amplify truth. We can create space. We can listen. Storytelling has always been a form of resistance.

And I’m swirling around ideas for a short film rooted in what’s unfolding in our own backyards. Because when the world feels loud and chaotic, sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is create.

There are so many topics to explore. The challenge is not finding something to say. It’s refusing to let fear silence me.

If you’re feeling heavy too, you’re not alone.

How are you coping right now? What is helping you stay grounded? Where are you finding joy?

If you, or someone you know, would like to share your story on Chingonas in Life, I would love to hear from you. Let’s start a conversation. Let’s build community.

Sending you love.

And wishing you safety, strength, and small moments of peace.