Last weekend, I went to dinner at Playa in Mill Valley with five women to celebrate a friend's birthday. The birthday gal's first question, after we all piled into her swagger wagon, was "What are your coping strategies?" We knew what she meant. She meant "how are you dealing with the election results?" It's old news, I know, and most people simply want to train their gaze in the ONWARD direction. Harder than it sounds. I've toggled between denial, anger and incredulity since Nov. 9. I know I should get my ass to the Land of Kumbaya Acceptance, but what I really want to do is mount an insurrection to win the next election.
Our coping strategies varied: more yoga, meditation, volunteering, connection, obsessive controlling of things we can control. One thing was universal—we are turning to non-news. I, for one, still can't listen to NPR. It's dead to me (temporarily). I finally downloaded Audible (mitzvah for the commute!) and am squarely situated in 1933. The Boys in the Boat is a compelling, delicious listen and a sobering Perspective Check. As in, it could be worse: he could be Hitler and this is not the fourth year of the Great Depression.
As we head into the holidays, my hope is that more silver linings will surface, more intentions will be solidified, and more people will look into one another's eyes with compassion .... and determination.
Reading selections including but not limited to:
Middlesex (Eugenides)
My Life on the Road (Steinem)
Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace (Lamott)
Our coping strategies varied: more yoga, meditation, volunteering, connection, obsessive controlling of things we can control. One thing was universal—we are turning to non-news. I, for one, still can't listen to NPR. It's dead to me (temporarily). I finally downloaded Audible (mitzvah for the commute!) and am squarely situated in 1933. The Boys in the Boat is a compelling, delicious listen and a sobering Perspective Check. As in, it could be worse: he could be Hitler and this is not the fourth year of the Great Depression.
As we head into the holidays, my hope is that more silver linings will surface, more intentions will be solidified, and more people will look into one another's eyes with compassion .... and determination.
Reading selections including but not limited to:
Middlesex (Eugenides)
My Life on the Road (Steinem)
Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace (Lamott)
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