Today brought an emotional setback. I’ve been happily living a positive, news-free life, removed from the screaming headlines of the past week. But today, the news caught up with me, and it threw me for a loop: Matt Gaetz as Attorney General? Elon Musk as Mr. Efficiency? It was like a slap in the face, and I had a visceral, negative reaction.

Apropos to the Hermit aspect of this journey, I felt like I’d just emerged after a long time shut away, only to find a world so changed it was barely recognizable. And this is only one week in! Perhaps this reaction is a predictable outcome of unplugging. But I’ve always said I wanted to stay informed. Maybe I need to make a deliberate effor to do so on my terms. Maybe I take in a weekly or monthly “dose” of news (take my medicine so to speak), just enough to stay informed without being overwhelmed. I wonder if such a thing exists—a curated monthly news digest. Maybe it’s time to look into monthly magazines. More to figure out.

Then there’s the question of how to make the world a better place while taking a step back from it. I want to support those doing the hard, important work, and we’ve donated to organizations making a difference. But I realize there’s room to flesh this out further, to plan for more intentional action.

Today’s experience was overwhelming—a jarring reminder of what I’d stepped away from and why. It feels like a setback, no doubt. But the only way forward is to keep going. I’ll keep refining this approach, learning how to dodge the unexpected triggers, and finding sources that truly nourish. Progress isn’t always a straight line, and today was a reminder of that. Setbacks and all, I’m committed to this path.