Another moment is the Peace Walk, which carried me through winter. Seeing joyful people flock to see and hear the monks daily message of peace and loving kindness nourished my heart. Biggest vibe shift was seeing how police depts and first responders greeted and honored them.
This may not rise to the level of the Knicks win for allll sorts of reasons but the Carolina Hurricanes winning the Stanley Cup was incredibly good vibes. They are a team that always seems to be having an incredibly good time and as far as I know, their players have been pretty scandal-free, which seems to be difficult for any professional male athletes. Also the goalie for the other team (Las Vegas Golden Knights) is a rapist and the crowds kept chanting "no means no" at the games, which makes it even better that they lost.
I agree completely; the two most recent events have also given us a much needed release from the oppressiveness of Trump/MAGA/Christian Nationalism as well as a much needed reminder of what we can be as Americans!
I feel this so much! Project Hail Mary felt like another example of this for me, I was obssessed, I think down to the clear collective and self-sacrifice, and love between very different "beings"!
I have a theory that the vibe shift is being obscured by the stranglehold billionaires have on media right now -- and that on a person-to-person level it's been building and building. Think about how we had the largest single day protest in American history in the last six months and it didn't even make the list! Something is going to break through and show us the pure depth and breadth - maybe midterms?
It's like a volcano. Surface conditions can put a cap on a lava tube, preventing a volcanic eruption from occurring for a while. But the pressure still builds. If it's not released in some other way, the cap will eventually no longer be able to hold it in. When the eruption finally happens, it's much larger and more violent than it would have been without the cap.
I strongly agree. I have felt the tide turning for weeks now. He is so weak right now, physically and politically - one thing Americans hate is Commanders-In-Chief that lose wars. Especially wars that start with the US accidentally bombing a school filled with little girls. He's turning on the high level people around him, and he's turning on the GOP in Congress. And they are all starting to turn on him. It's like watching a game of Jenga - eventually someone is going to pull out the wrong block and the whole thing is going to collapse. I just hope it happens in time to save democracy here.
I love this - I was just in NYC for a few days and caught the Knicks win - am totally feeling the vibe shift too. Almost exactly a year ago, I wrote this piece about how the Dems won't start winning again until they figure out how to cultivate belonging and joy among their followers and I feel like we're really seeing it happen now: https://darbysaxbe.substack.com/p/how-the-left-can-get-happier
Thank you, Amanda. I love your vibe shift examples! (I imagine the Obama opening was/is a definite vibe shift. Amazing!) I have been thinking a lot about how we often find what we seek and are the creators of our daily vibe and that is all kind of miraculous. Thank you for pointing out joy and love. Poet Ross Gay writes about the power of finding what we love in common. That feels like exactly the vibe you are talking about. To good vibes!
For me, the vibe shift began in April 2025 when the liberal justice won the Wisconsin Supreme Court Race and Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz's districts shifted left 10 points both. I know this is such a nerdy thing to remember, but I remember seeing the blue shifts on the map and taking solace in the fact that people in both a swing state and red districts were realizing that they could vote for pro democracy candidates.
Agree with all of this! I've been trying to put my finger on when exactly things went from feeling bleak and hopeless to still awful, but not insurmountable.... and dare I say even hopeful. For me, the mayoral elections last November, not just Mamdani's win but also the elections in Virginia and New Jersey, really helped boost morale for me.
I'm feeling that too. The morning I drove to the polls to vote for Barack Obama, one radio station was playing "The Times They Are A Changin" and I felt hope. Right now it's a little glimmer and I hope it's not extinguished but it's more than we've had in a while. And yes, who can forget the sweet Monks that walked - that added to it. I also think of the expression, "it is always darkest before the dawn." The old movement is so full of hate and darkness; I'm ready for some light.
Yes it’s here.
Another moment is the Peace Walk, which carried me through winter. Seeing joyful people flock to see and hear the monks daily message of peace and loving kindness nourished my heart. Biggest vibe shift was seeing how police depts and first responders greeted and honored them.
This may not rise to the level of the Knicks win for allll sorts of reasons but the Carolina Hurricanes winning the Stanley Cup was incredibly good vibes. They are a team that always seems to be having an incredibly good time and as far as I know, their players have been pretty scandal-free, which seems to be difficult for any professional male athletes. Also the goalie for the other team (Las Vegas Golden Knights) is a rapist and the crowds kept chanting "no means no" at the games, which makes it even better that they lost.
I agree completely; the two most recent events have also given us a much needed release from the oppressiveness of Trump/MAGA/Christian Nationalism as well as a much needed reminder of what we can be as Americans!
I feel this so much! Project Hail Mary felt like another example of this for me, I was obssessed, I think down to the clear collective and self-sacrifice, and love between very different "beings"!
I have a theory that the vibe shift is being obscured by the stranglehold billionaires have on media right now -- and that on a person-to-person level it's been building and building. Think about how we had the largest single day protest in American history in the last six months and it didn't even make the list! Something is going to break through and show us the pure depth and breadth - maybe midterms?
It's like a volcano. Surface conditions can put a cap on a lava tube, preventing a volcanic eruption from occurring for a while. But the pressure still builds. If it's not released in some other way, the cap will eventually no longer be able to hold it in. When the eruption finally happens, it's much larger and more violent than it would have been without the cap.
I strongly agree. I have felt the tide turning for weeks now. He is so weak right now, physically and politically - one thing Americans hate is Commanders-In-Chief that lose wars. Especially wars that start with the US accidentally bombing a school filled with little girls. He's turning on the high level people around him, and he's turning on the GOP in Congress. And they are all starting to turn on him. It's like watching a game of Jenga - eventually someone is going to pull out the wrong block and the whole thing is going to collapse. I just hope it happens in time to save democracy here.
I love this - I was just in NYC for a few days and caught the Knicks win - am totally feeling the vibe shift too. Almost exactly a year ago, I wrote this piece about how the Dems won't start winning again until they figure out how to cultivate belonging and joy among their followers and I feel like we're really seeing it happen now: https://darbysaxbe.substack.com/p/how-the-left-can-get-happier
Thank you, Amanda. I love your vibe shift examples! (I imagine the Obama opening was/is a definite vibe shift. Amazing!) I have been thinking a lot about how we often find what we seek and are the creators of our daily vibe and that is all kind of miraculous. Thank you for pointing out joy and love. Poet Ross Gay writes about the power of finding what we love in common. That feels like exactly the vibe you are talking about. To good vibes!
For me, the vibe shift began in April 2025 when the liberal justice won the Wisconsin Supreme Court Race and Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz's districts shifted left 10 points both. I know this is such a nerdy thing to remember, but I remember seeing the blue shifts on the map and taking solace in the fact that people in both a swing state and red districts were realizing that they could vote for pro democracy candidates.
Extremely refreshing and energizing to read, thank you!
Agree with all of this! I've been trying to put my finger on when exactly things went from feeling bleak and hopeless to still awful, but not insurmountable.... and dare I say even hopeful. For me, the mayoral elections last November, not just Mamdani's win but also the elections in Virginia and New Jersey, really helped boost morale for me.
I'm feeling that too. The morning I drove to the polls to vote for Barack Obama, one radio station was playing "The Times They Are A Changin" and I felt hope. Right now it's a little glimmer and I hope it's not extinguished but it's more than we've had in a while. And yes, who can forget the sweet Monks that walked - that added to it. I also think of the expression, "it is always darkest before the dawn." The old movement is so full of hate and darkness; I'm ready for some light.
Great piece, Amanda!
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thank you.
Yes! there is only so much awful I can process at any given time. I need these reminders of what it is that I am fighting for.