How has everyone been doing this week? It seems much longer than eight days ago we sat in front of our televisions in shock (either happy or upset) that Donald Trump became President Elect of the United States despite polls having had his odds at less than 20%. I found the whole experience interesting. His chances of being elected was about one in five. It wasn’t the best odds but it wasn’t the worst yet many people acted as if there was no chance he could win. But he did.
As I watched the election results coming in, I saw one woman say “We’re taking back America!” yet when asked what that meant, she couldn't answer. I watched as another person blamed the stupid, white women for not voting for Hillary Clinton. In both instances, I noticed that the person was making decisions and judgments based on rhetoric and stereotypes that neither questioned. Over the last several years, I’ve been questioning my thoughts. Am I placing judgment when I don’t really know? Am I assuming what I see in the media is accurate? Are my beliefs based on truth or story?
This can be extended to all situations. Whenever I am not in peace, it is coming from fear and not from Truth. We don’t know what President Elect Trump will do. We know what we think he meant in the past, and even that is suspect - can we really know another’s thoughts and intentions? We don’t know anything beyond our own experience of this moment, this instant. We can make plans and have ideas about the future but to go into fear is to live in a made-up future that may not happen and interferes with our present happiness.
Today I am grateful that the sun rose. I am grateful that I am at a job that I love. I am grateful that I have clean water to drink and food to eat. Today I know that Trump is the President Elect. I am grateful for what I have now. Think of 5 things you can be grateful for right now and focus on those if fear arises. Choose to be happy and present.
