Monday Mindfulness: Trying, Anyway...

I think whatever your politics may be, we can all agree that it was a tough election, and a very tough couple of weeks following the election. If you read the news, you may have noticed the upsurge in hate crimes related to race and religion, which is horrifying and disheartening. And while it can be easy for some people to say "look on the bright side," "don't let the negativity affect you," "let's talk about more pleasant things," I tend to notice that those very people are least likely to be affected by any sweeping changes that may occur under a new presidency. Maybe we could try a different kind of Monday Mindfulness, where rather than (or in addition to) engaging in our own awareness and our own bodies, we extend that very mindfulness to others. And let that mindfulness extend to action. Let's talk to each other. Let's support each other. Whoever you voted for, there were reasons you did so. Let's try to understand each other's reasons. And let's try to remember we are all human, and we crave understanding and sympathy from other humans. This is not the time to "move on" or "talk about something else," but neither is it the time for negativity. Rather, let's reflect on what we can do to make what's happening in our country better. And don't forget to breathe deeply and engage with where you are right this very minute. You'll never be in this moment again.