“This is our storm America. We decide and maybe not the next President as the final outcome, but where our humanity to one another in our actions will live out.” ALisa Starkweather
Deep down inside this is what lives as a reality at least in the story living in me- in body, mind and heart.
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Life before the election.
Life after the election.
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No matter where you fall in those camps- there is dread. There is innate knowing that our lives are in collision and impact. Once again families and friends divide, judge, blame, hate, and fear. Once again one is thrown into uncharted waters. Both sides (2020- 74.2 million for __ and 81 million for __) believing the other side as holding evil, some believing both sides are, some believing that there is only one answer, some believing that they vote only to stop the alternative, some not voting at all, some doing everything possible for best outcome and others doing nothing and purposefully tuning out. Some using their vote as a protest of the two party stranglehold. All of us are here in this entanglement and that means millions of us.
I keep reflecting on W NC post Helene. We cannot comprehend the loss they are experiencing. There was pre Helene life and post Helene. What have they done? What have they experienced? What did they learn about their humanity? Stories I’ve heard and some first hand, is how they came together in the face of a geological disaster. Yes, there were rumors to dispel and conflicts.
And there, amidst 1000 broken bridges and damaged roads, amidst lost lives and homes, amidst life changed and altered beyond recognition, human bridges from heart forged relationship beyond differences. Neighbors now in every real sense with people helping one another because they cared for those who needed tending. (No past tense either as they are still in the thick of it and will be for some years ahead.) From different beliefs and faiths and cultures people have been laboring hard to survive hardship and to help, not harm.
Often I wonder why all of us are not rallying the same for one another instead of against. Why we are not doing everything in our creative power to address climate crisis? Why are we still killing and supporting war wherever violence crushes the life out of our children’s futures?
Have we even seen the likes of the integrity and honesty we need in leadership that challenge the way things have been done repeatedly in patterns that do not serve? Who has the courage to stand up to oppression?
Many of you do btw. And do daily. You inspire me.
It is the many of you that have me believe in goodness, in justice, in humanity and in the power of healing our wounds, broken hearts and lineages.
No matter what happens, this time it is not all about a win and a defeat. This time it is a conundrum of how the heck we come together as a nation post this upcoming crisis event? It is how we find our way to even be closer and respectful versus repelled. It is how we can go through and not have violence be the outcome.
I am not sure there is an answer or a known one anyways. No amount of polls are our magic ball to see an unknown future.
Rather than fight it out in comments with defense and intellect and sides, you could say what you most want for life, for one another, for a vision of how we navigate this crisis and perhaps we are closer in that than we now imagine ourselves to be? I am not saying that out of naivety but rather our humanity. We are mothers, fathers, lovers, friends, aunties, uncles, grandparents, helpers, co-workers, sisters and brothers…. Remember?
There are things that are certain at least for me.
1. We and I mean all of us here, are going to go through whatever is going to happen together.
2. What you are doing and being matters right now leading up to this event. Choose well. Ground. Be willing to live with your part, your participation, or lack of it, given the outcome you seek. We are all responsible for where we find ourselves. Be smart. Keep your questions and curiosity alive. Don’t always buy into corporate media.
3. Find your center and calm your nervous system. Breathe. Deep. Your presence is vital.
4. Remember that we can overcome tribalism and we can reach to the best part of each person’s humanity. Let’s stop with the garbage comments all around. Ouch. Not okay. Manipulation on either side- really not okay.
5. We can find our courage, our heart for this – whatever it will be and I mean even in the now unimaginable. (I hope.
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6. Keep being a part of the answers we so need. Keep being curious about the great divide. Keep empathy and compassion (with needed boundaries) alive. Don’t be blinded or blind sided if you can help it.
May you know in all this confusion what you need to do. It is likely personal and close to what most concerns you and those you care about.
The rest? We know the story. It has been repeated over and over again for nearly ten years and eons before that. You know somewhere where you are standing. Let’s make our own path towards something post election that doesn’t look like triumph or implosion but rather us dealing with the damage and debris while we rebuild from the ground up. This is our storm, America. We decide and maybe not the next President as the final outcome but where our humanity to one another in our actions will live out.
I am here for the love story, not the horror story and this will be my mantra no matter what is up in the rigors of our endurance. I will choose love again and again until my last breath and no one, no how is ever going to take that away from me.
