Nadine J Walters – My Life

Question for me today: What is on your mind?

My honest answer? The future. And it’s heavy on my heart.

I don’t usually write about politics—it’s not my comfort zone—but these days, I can’t seem to think about anything else. I believe we’re living through one of the most frightening times I’ve ever experienced in this country.

I’ve witnessed a lot of history unfold: racism and race riots, the women’s movement, Vietnam, Nixon, 9/11… and yet, somehow, this moment feels uniquely unsettling. I’ve never felt such deep fear for my children, grandchildren, friends, neighbors—even strangers I’ll never meet.

Trump is on my mind. Not just him, but the politicians and enablers who seem to support his ability to dehumanize entire groups of people. I never imagined that so many of my fellow citizens would accept—or even cheer—what’s happening now. I find myself asking over and over: Why?

I feel sad. I feel angry. And I feel like we’re in one of our country’s darkest chapters.

My father served over 20 years in the Navy, and he voted for Trump in 2016. He wanted change—just like so many others. And I suppose in 2024, people wanted change again. And this… this is what we got.

Living in a red state adds another layer to it all. The conversations I overhear, the casual comments—I often just stay quiet and listen. I hope, truly, that someday they understand that the seemingly “small” issues that drove their votes weren’t the real stakes.

That’s what’s on my mind today. Yesterday, I said I might ramble—and maybe this is a ramble. But it’s also the simplest, most honest version of what’s weighing on me.

Sometimes, saying it out loud—writing it down—is the only way to carry it.