Election De-stress Self Care is Necessary Now
Well here we are. Hours after the electorate cast their ballots after one of the most contentious campaign seasons in modern history, the resounding boom of their choice was heard loud and clear: Donald Trump, the business man and reality TV star with no prior political experience, is the President elect of The United States of America. Amazing. Shocking. Stupefying. Unprecedented. Yes, yes, yes…I’m still trying to wrap my head around it, yet I say again: here we are. This is a fact and we must now accept this reality and move forward. Although he was not my choice, I feel very strongly that the focus needs to be on unifying America, not dividing it. We must hold Trump accountable to his promise of being a President for ALL Americans, and we will need to do all we can to voice our beliefs and our needs as citizens to make sure this new President, his administration and Congress, hears us and acts with the people’s best interest in mind. We can do this and we must. This is always how change has come about. Margaret Mead said it well: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Some of us are still in a post election postpartum depression, after all did we not just birth a President? We need to de-stress and regain our energy and vitality for change! And I mean change for the good, forcing the Trump administration to work for everyone – this requires action. What can you do to feel better and get moving in a positive direction?
1. Take a break from all social media for 1 day – 1 week. There is too much hate on it now, although understandably since some people are still grieving, but it doesn’t help unite us.
2. Take a bath and read a great novel while in the tub, or some classic poetry. I just reread Walt Whitman’s Song Of The Open Road last night and it made me feel alive again. I also recited two of my favorite Shakespeare sonnets – there’s so much power in art!
3. Go out into your community and volunteer your time and/or voice to groups that adhere to the same principles you do, whether they’re women’s rights, same sex marriage, health insurance concerns, civil rights etc., you are not powerless!
Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton