Where To From Here?

Eight years ago, there was much drama in the United States with regard to the presidential election. Election day came and history was made as the first black American was elected.  Many people, in the days leading up to the election, vowed to leave the country if he were elected. Some may have. Many left social media and still more removed long-time friends from their association because of the outcome of the election.

Prior to the recent election, many people averred as well to move to other countries depending on who won. This time, however, the attestations were more pronounced. Since the election, memes have been appearing on social media asking when certain celebrities would be leaving and further inquiring if they needed help packing.

Protests and demonstrations sprung up to assert personal and group displeasure regarding Mr. Trump winning the presidential election. These remonstrations have escalated into violence with police interactions. Outrage with regard to these outbreaks began to clog social media. Personally, I found the posts following the election to be worse and more inundating than they ever were prior to November 8, 2016.

As I had already voted, via secret ballot which was mailed the end of September, I maintained distance from the ever mounting drama of the election by not watching the news and scrolling by political posts when in social media. October 23, 2016, I wrote and published a blog post here called Election Madness. I spelled it out and wrote it as I saw it. I did not watch television, read the papers, engage in social media or listen to the radio on Election Day. I only posted what I believed to be a premonition I had that morning. I did not learn who won or lost the election until the next morning.

The morning after the election, I was already beginning to see the ugliness arising in social media and in the manner with which friends addressed me in private messaging. Therefore, I posted the following on my social media pages:

I will say this once.

I cannot change something I had no control over initiating. All I can do is continue to live my life day-by-day and remain calm and relaxed. Focusing on the ‘What ifs’ and possible future chaotic states will only lead to fear.

Fear is what keeps the world in trouble regardless of who is at the helm of the various nations. I can only do that which affects my own life and keep an eye on the world around me as it changes. Change has been happening since the beginning of time. Change will continue to happen through all eternity. More fear will only bring more turmoil to an already troubled world.

I have spent the last several years breaking the bad habit of living in fear, which I did for nearly forty years. I will not return to that state. If I called you friend before yesterday, I still call you friend today. Politics has no basis for those I choose to call friend.

Look within to find that peaceful calm that helps us live and navigate through life. Dwell there and spread your calm to those around you. It takes one to initiate and carry the effects on to the rest of the world.

We will survive.

As fear continues to rule the way people behave, I have remained pensive. I knew this post would need to be written, but going through some personal health issues, some stemming from ongoing wildfires burning not too far from my home, I have bided my time. 

Now is the proper time for me to publish these thoughts and feelings.

To begin, I researched. This is the right way to go as I am a writer and I research. I wondered if this has been the worst display following a presidential election in the history of the United States. No, it is not. While this is a very ugly and destructive time in our history, it is not the largest protest we have seen. Following the November 1860 election which would bring Abraham Lincoln into the White House as our 16^th president, the grandest display of discontent was enacted as the legislature of South Carolina voted to secede from the Union and join the Confederacy. 

Now, we need to decide where we go from here.

I attended an online meditation this past weekend and many were discussing everything I have just mentioned with regard to the current political drama. Many seemed to be declaring they were afraid. I was a bit frustrated with that and instead of trying to add my ‘2¢’, so to speak, I typed for all to see, “I am not afraid.” Later I was asked about this statement and I went on to describe how I see things. It was pretty much the same thing I posted on social media November 9^th. This still holds true.

We need to be mindful that, in general as a nation, we are allowing fear to rule. When fear rules, we lose. Take a breath and refresh your understanding of our darkest times in history. Name calling, violent outbursts and throwing tantrums never get us anywhere. Look at what is right in front of you. Your family. Your friends. Your home. Your job. These are important. No one can take away your love or your dignity. Hold your head high. Be the best you you can be. Focus on what is important to you and let go of that which you have no control over. Just be mindful that there are other forces in play that you cannot control. You can, however, control how you react to those forces.

I share my new mantra with you:

 

I know who I am and where I am in my life. Therefore, I cannot feel fear in the political situations I cannot control.