I’ve said this before but want to reiterate it tonight to try and ease our brains for a few minutes. I don’t know how many times people have told me “I don’t want to talk about it” and then continue to talk over you about their view of the politics and people who have done them harm.  Their viewpoint is sometimes so skewed that I feel I must engage and try to get them to see the side of those folks that are being harmed by their harsh words and actions. It’s disheartening and I’d like to forget about it completely, but… Right now, there’s so much garbage spewing out into our air (and ear) space, and it pains me that people (including me) are stressed out about the events that are in play. But here’s the thing: We can’t completely disengage because people are set in their ways and are being obstreperous. We have to acknowledge other people’s pain, but also try and engage in a conversation that can go beyond over-generalization and hope it doesn’t escalate into a shouting match, hurting others’ feelings as a consequence.

When someone generalizes a single experience to apply to everyone, it’s called a hasty generalization – a logical fallacy where a conclusion is drawn about a large group based on a very small sample size, often just one personal experience. Key points about hasty generalization are:
-You are working with Limited Data. You are only using one or a few isolated examples to make a broad statement.
-Overgeneralizing. You assume that because something happened to you, it must happen to everyone in a similar situation. For Example: “I had a bad experience with a taxi driver once, so all taxi drivers must be unreliable.” 

I read an article that discussed how this whole craziness was affecting women’s health. The article states that “Instead of fighting against uncertainty, we can practice accepting the discomfort. Acceptance means willingness to feel all emotions, without escaping or avoiding. Acceptance is not approval, permission, or appreciation. It is simply saying, ‘I know I cannot change this, so I will allow myself to feel whatever I have to feel.’”

We don’t have to accept all the changes with which we cannot agree. It just means accepting the emotions, not the politics. We are going to feel uncomfortable and uncertain about our future, but we can engage in actions without fear. We can choose our behaviors and try to get along with others whose values are different than ours. Value-based actions help you emotionally. I am working on a letter to Senator Michael Bennet about two of the subjects that are near and dear to me. I won’t play whack-a-mole with all of the upcoming changes; I’ll just focus on my research and present a logical statement on Education and Law Enforcement issues. Those are areas that I am comfortable speaking about. I may not be able to change things, but I can certainly have a say to the person who represents us. Maybe it’s not enough. But that’s what I can do right now.

For further information on this subject see:
https://adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/consumer-professional/post-election-impacts-womens-health

So, something I heard on the news that was really good advice to get through the next four years:

“Just do the next right thing.” Can we all do that? Can we engage and reach out to someone who needs us right now? I am going to try my best to follow my heart and create a calm space for everyone around me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGfFdbaO2Y0

Love and hugs to all tonight!