Dear First name / Friend

 

This election is scaring me. Yet I have to go on with the day to day, parent my two little boys, make food, do the dishes….the list goes on. So I wanted to drop a quick note regarding how I am staying sane in an insane world.

 

Remember when we could greet one another at the airline gate? Waiting eagerly as passengers emerged from the tarmac one after another. When your person finally emerged you embraced, enveloping each other with care. Sometimes it was a joyful celebration. Other times, when travel was for pain, the embrace soothed sorrow. 

 

Let us do that with ourselves now. Bring a hand to your heart -- skin on skin -- and embrace your election fear. Breathe into your heart, hold yourself as you would a loved one and say, “I know you are scared, we will get through this.” 

 

For we don’t know what is going to happen – there is reason to be scared. Yet no matter what we need grounded nervous systems during this time. 

 

Embracing something you want to avoid such as fear, anger, or stress, softens the experience. In the softening, we can access our strength. 

 

The nervous system has more room, constriction releases, and our pain can move through us. Thus allowing us to return to the task at hand: vote early and speak your truth to those around you.  

 

In the words of Reverend Raphael Warnock - your vote is a prayer. Let us all pray for peace and democracy.