11/08/2024
Post Election Blog
I am wrecked or at least I was Wednesday morning at 5:30 am when I awoke to the news that we would not be having our first woman president (Again). I know many of you are too. The grief of the election is real.
I went to bed because I learned my lesson from that last race.
When I woke up at 5:30 am and saw PA was a red state again, I knew what that meant. I immediately started to cry. Not just cry, but sob, I would say. AND it was necessary for me! A lament of how did we get back here again?
I went outside and laid on my deck, the stars shining above, and tears streaming down my face.
I grieved for so many things.
The suffering of women-past, present, and future.
The apparent lack of our concern appointing someone who appears to have no values, and really acts so poorly to women, and other marginalized populations.
For my body and all the tension, anxiety, and stress we have been exposed to for so many months.
So many fears had also come straight up to the surface for me.
I have a daughter. How will this affect her choices for her body autonomy?
I have a son in the military. What will happen with a president who has been so erratic in the past?
And the sky shone brightly with stars and there was the inner voice reminding me
“I am safe at this moment. My family is safe at this moment. I am safe at this moment”
And it was/is a personal mantra and one I might cling to in the days ahead. Your nervous system needs the reminder now. Flight or fight is not going to help you now.
Taking a step back is what might need to happen now.
Those stars faded as I watched and waited and cried. And felt my feelings fully. And the sun still rose slowly black sky turning from dark gray to light gray to light purple to light blue. It was quiet and all of the sudden the birds started to sing alive with the rising sun.
I am safe at this moment and the sun is rising. There is light in the dark.
Take extra care of you now more than ever.
Let’s speak and live our values.
Let’s be vigilant and witness and be awake to all that is happening in the moment.
I beg you not to go to that dark place, that cynical place, that place where fear eats you up.
Don’t be tempted to argue and create hate within you.
We cannot predict the future.
Come back to now.
It’s time to do things that help you to make sense of this.
Remember you are not alone; you might think differently than those who voted a different way than you. That’s OK.
We cannot predict the future.
Find the practices that center you and bring you peace.
Stick with those practices.
I was grateful for the mild morning the day after the election to release my grief in the darkness.
I am grateful that the sun did rise.
I am grateful for the community that surrounds me.
Let’s be there for one another.
Let’s calm ourselves
Let’s make choices from a centered place.
Let’s NOT project what might happen.
Be ready to respond to what happens, when it happens.
The only way to do that is to be grounded and be full.
You are not alone.
Accept what is and respond mindfully. No need to react. No need to argue or fight with anyone.
For me, my initial response (after the grief was released) was to get up and get dressed and do my morning routine which includes journaling and meditation. Then I decided to go for a long walk. I had had a bodywork appointment scheduled, which I was so thankful was on my calendar the day after the election.
All those things helped so much to get me grounded and give me perspective.
I will be giving a monthly donation to planned parenthood because it feels important for me to do so.
I will be learning more about activism.
I will be reading newspapers and paying close attention to the decisions this administration is making.
I will ask for advice from my elders who have fought for women’s rights for me in the past.
I will continue to support you as you work your way through any feelings and emotions that you need to process.
“It’s not time to despair. It's time to roll up our sleeves.” -Kamala Harris
(If you did not listen to her concession speech, I highly recommend that you do. Of course, When you are ready)
How will you respond?
With love,
Denise
