Ah, bless the breeze. After days and days of oppressive temperatures over 90, forcing us to forego outdoor gardening time, we finally had a slight respite. We still couldn’t work outside more than half an hour without being soaked with sweat, but when we took a water break, sitting in the shade of our solar tracker, it was almost tolerable.

Then came the breeze, bringing us moments of thankfulness. We watched the birds enjoying our abundant blackberries, and the wind itself became visible as it rippled the grass grown too tall during the heat and unpredictable showers.

As pleasing as breezes can be, they also can create choppy waters. Our national political seas have been roiled indeed these past few weeks. After continually elevated temperatures in rhetoric and exhortation, the storm broke. A would-be assassin, another lost young white man, superficially wounded the Republican nominee for president.

The impact was not superficial, however. Within minutes, supporters of the former president twisted the facts to suggest the assault was instigated by Democrats rather than by the violent words of Republican leaders (including the head of the once-respected Heritage Foundation), combined with the wide availability of weapons of war in every community.

When I was a little kid, we had a chant we used if someone said something mean or rude: “I am rubber, you are glue; what you say bounces on me and sticks on you.” Our former president has tried to perfect a perversion of the pattern: He taunts and bullies, then disclaims his statements and attributes them to the target of his assaults. The process is so convoluted that the confusion about origin, target, distortion and deflection contributes to the political seasickness we have been experiencing.

The winds of change took another direction Sunday, July 21, when President Joe Biden announced his departure from the campaign for another term and graciously endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris embodies everyone who Project 2025 — the dark Republican plan to dismantle our democracy — fears most: smart, empowered women; people of color; people comfortable in multiple cultures; and people who understand the Constitution and the laws of the land. There’s no doubt she is in for rough seas. How do we navigate through all this?

For one thing, pay attention. The convoluted and twisted statements will only become thicker and more strident. Ask yourself, who benefits from this story line? Russia, China? Big Tech? Big Pharma? Billionaires? People who fear women? Sort the wheat from the chaff.

For another, sight our true north — democracy and a country that serves all its people, not just a few. Also, row hard. The election will take a serious long boat with many, many people throwing their time and energy and resources into the effort to reach the port called democracy. What can you do? Join the 1.4 million grassroots donors who have chipped in to the campaign since Sunday; sign up along with the 100,000 people who have volunteered for the campaign in its first few days; talk to family, friends and neighbors; write postcards to key constituencies outside Massachusetts (look up the 413 Staying Connected for Action newsletter).

Learn about Project 2025 and the appalling goals of not only restricting abortion in all circumstances, but also making many kinds of birth control illegal; undermining Social Security; flat out abolishing the Affordable Care Act, which now enrolls more people than ever before in basic health care plans; regressive economic policies that would undo all the strides made on employment and pay levels since the pandemic; plans to roll back price guards on key medicines; intentional destruction of our public schools; halting efforts to mitigate climate change and a promise to support the oil and gas industries above all other energy sectors.

Overarching it all is the overt goal of converting all Americans to “Christian nationalism,” which seems to mean a very narrow version of Christianity that allows a strong dictator to make sure everyone follows the rules set by a small minority of people.

If you find any of these ideas upsetting, you are aligned with strong majorities on every issue. So, the way to navigate the coming storms is to remember you are one of many, that we are in this together, and together we can move mountains.

Yes, the seas are high, we will sometimes face gale winds, but bless the breeze. It brings us a fresh chance to build the country we so desire.

Judy Wagner lives in Northfield.