Holiday Greetings to the Elder Rainbow Tribe. May your leftovers never grow stale.
November was an eventful, if not fateful, month. The election left many of us despondent and, to be honest, fearful for ourselves and the future. A Wednesday zoom post election featured Jan and Gianni sharing insights as to their perspective on events, coupled with a few basic strategies about how to cope with what is coming our way. A link to the talk can be found at https://youtu.be/UPr7pE3XCfA. Please be advised that there were recording issues, and it takes some patience (well worth the practice anyway) to access the content of their remarks.
Some of the highlights of the talk:
Breathe (yes, that simple). Conscious breathing, even for just a bit of time, can assist in centering and alleviating some of the current stress be realistic about what you can control and do. This mess is not going to go away soon, so identify what small steps you can do every day to bring you some peace of mind. Micro dose yourself with conscious moments of kindness and joy. For instance, looking at pictures of happy occasions, a brief text to a friend just to say you appreciate them, eating a cookie. Whatever you need to bring just a bit of happiness to life. This is personal work we all can benefit from at any time. Get out of your house or apartment - even if you can only be outside for a few minutes a day on your front porch or patio, get yourself to a different space. This can be a walk in the park, sitting in a coffee shop or a sanctuary, reading in a library or any other space that gives you some comfort and changes up your environment.
Participate in community - however you define it. Our seniors group is one community available to you - through emails, Zoom calls, potlucks, lunch on the town, or taco Tuesday. If you are reading this, you are some part of our community, and none of us are alone.
From other sources:
Prepare yourself for the coming years. While the specific actions may not yet be known, the intent is clear. And so is the initial strategy - which is deliberate shock and awe. Patently unqualified people, many of whom face allegations of sexual impropriety, are nominated for high office. Threats of wholesale firings, deportations and so on are designed to demoralize, confuse, stifle, subdue and overwhelm individuals and organizations that are a threat to the incoming administration's agenda. As Pete Buttigieg said to Young Democrats, get used to it - notice when it is happening. If you can name what is coming your way, it is the beginning of the ability to manage it.
Strongly limit time on social media. Again, our buddy Pete points out that in the history of communication, social media has been utilized for about 15 years. Get back to reading hard copy, having real conversations and doing some non-social media research of your own on issues of concern to you. Interestingly, per Heather Cox Richardson, traffic on X dropped precipitously the day after the election, most likely with the exit of Russian bots disseminating false information.
It seems like a rough road ahead - let's work together as individuals and community to create sanity and safety.
December Events:
December 3, Taco Tuesday at NOON at Tecate Grill 2610 W Northwest Blvd, Spokane, WA 99205
December 5 Steering Committee meeting 4 pm zoom
December 7th Spectrum Concert at 7:00 PM at Westminster UCC!
December 14 Saturday Holiday Potluck, noon at UU Spokane, please rsvp to Nancy 4340 W. Whistalks Way
December 18 Wednesday Lunch OUT on the Town TBD
every Friday at 4 Zoom call
May we All take a moment and celebrate the Light within as the many holidays around solstice take place