Fighting Overwhelming Alarm with Toads

It’s been a hard year. It feels like at least two years since January 20, 2025, and it hasn’t even been 2 months! I didn’t do a post at all last month, I apologize. I was overwhelmed with too many things, including good things like making art, but also dread about the dismantling of our democracy, our stability, our environment, etc, etc, that I wasn’t exactly sure what to write. But I’ve been reading a lot and have distilled a couple of my thoughts down to something I’d like to share.

Carved Boreal Toad linocut

There is no way for one person to keep up with the vast and fast changes happening in the United States. It’s worth listening to those that are trying to translate the chess moves, though. So far I’m a fan of Alt National Parks (and many of their Alt cohort), Heather Cox Richardson, The Contrarian, Rebecca Solnit, and Jon Stewart. Who are you following?

If you are just one lost-feeling individual like me, not a news team or political scientist, I’m suggesting even before the overwhelm hits, step back one step. Remember what inspires you, what was important to you before our country went to the DOG(E)s. Do a little exploring of topics that aren’t doom scrolling America’s implosion. This can act as relief for our tired souls, but there’s another reason, too.

Like I said, one person can’t handle all of the scary coming from so many directions. But if we each think and work through one or two of different topics that we care most about, then we are making progress dispersed amongst many people.

In December I started working on a series of articles for Yampa Valley Sustainability Council about biodiversity. And I’m excited that they will be shared soon, first on their new Climate Corner Substack, and then I’ll share them through Creative Climate Action as well. I made two new linocuts to go with the first article, which is admittedly why it took so long to be ready to publish, sorry. With these articles, I was able to interview some very interesting, dedicated people about their work around wildlife, landscape restoration, and the importance of biodiversity.

When I’m learning from an expert, writing, or making artwork on a subject, I tend to do a short-term deep dive on the subject. And like an ever taller teetering ice cream cone, each subject is a new scoop that lands on top of older interests that I am still enjoying. There is also some melting together of subjects, some falling off the cone, whatever.

Printing the Boreal Toad linocut

For the first article that we will be sharing soon, I learned a lot about boreal toads and other topics. I’d known for years that amphibians were struggling. At first it was a mystery. Now it’s understood that amphibian chytrid fungus has been spreading around the world and causing amphibian decline and extinction. Please head to Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s site if you’d like to learn more about the boreal toad’s status in Colorado.

I studied lots of toad photos and made a linocut which I also framed and hung in my new studio/gallery in downtown Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Yay!! Come visit if you are in town.

During our opening at The Alley and for the week following, I’ve had the carved toad block and unpainted print hanging out on the table at the studio as a way to show and describe my printing process. With all of the toad energy around me, it shouldn’t be surprising that I wound up having two interesting and related interactions. My friend who works with Colorado endangered species came to our opening and invited me to help survey boreal toads later this year! And yesterday, an environmental lawyer came in after seeing our sign on the street. She has also participated in looking for boreal toads in the area.

Long story short, the energy you put into something will draw more of it back to you.

Painting the Boreal Toad linocut

I really hope I’m able to help count toads this summer, and I also plan to do wet meadow restoration work with Yampa Valley Sustainability Council when they start up later this year. Wet meadows are very important for wildlife including amphibians.

This sort of volunteering will not help save our democracy or the stability of our government. But it will have me participating in bettering our regional environment and wildlife situation. And when I step back to remember my inspirations and priorities, this is always hovering around the top of the list.

There are so many things that we just can’t change with our skillset, and for those types of concerns, I suggest donating or volunteering for organizations who are already doing the work. I donated to the American Civil Liberties Union because I think the legal system has most of the power and opportunity to stop a runaway administration. Hopefully our political leaders step up their game to protect Americans also. We really need them. If you want to do something to sway future elections, read this Yale Climate Connections interview with Nathaniel Stinnett of the Environmental Voter Project.

Thank you to all the hard working people already fighting to make things better. If you aren’t sure where to start, think about what your top inspiring interests are lately. Then think about your top one or two biggest concerns. Be specific, that will help you find direction. Do the inspirations and concerns overlap? Start there! If not, find ways to spend energy or time or money on them in different ways. Don’t try to tackle everything. Other people will work on their own interest areas which will spread out the energy. If people in your sphere are worried but not taking any action, lead by example, and talk to them about their own inspirations and concerns to help them get involved.

Don’t beat yourself up that you can’t fix everything. But at the same time DO something to improve what you can. Put your precious and important energy into fighting for what matters to you, and you will attract more of that good energy back into your life, even if it is just toads.

Boreal Toad, linocut with gouache by Jill Bergman