I’m sitting in Sea-Tac, jet lagged as heck, trying to organize my thoughts on my two days in DC. I don’t have many, my brain is yelling at the all-woman issue of Outside magazine loudest right now. I know this much: it’s time for me to stand up.

One of the first things I saw were people singing Amazing Grace while being led away in handcuffs from the lobby of the Senate Hart building. I don’t know what it was about. I couldn’t find anyone who did. Even though I had no idea what was going on, the willingness to be supremely uncomfortable for a cause moved me. It was then that I decided to be uncomfortable more often.

Right now that means advocating for fishing, climate science, and social justice. Oh, and donating to groups/causes that I can get behind. The big one is to the campaigns of elected officials that actually care about other people and believe in listening to scientists. (I met two. I’m glad they actually exist.)

I always joke that the hardest part of field work on a rainy day is leaving the truck. I guess I’m getting out of the truck.