Empty Your Head

 Hello. Is anyone out there? Hmm, silence. Never mind (says Emily Litella). I’m mostly writing this for myself. It helps a little.

I’ve been reading over my most recent posts, and I’m not happy. I seem to be obsessed with the same subject. I seem angry and fearful. To that I say, “Isn’t everyone?”

I’ve done what I promised myself not to do. I am letting one person suck up my thoughts and my days, and it is too much. I’m becoming a woman obsessed. I’m giving my life over to domination by evil.

Enough. I met the nicest person last week. It was at a used books store where I struck up a conversation with a young man shopping for fast food toys - you know, the kind of toys you get in a Happy Meal or other fast food joints. He said they brought him happy memories from his childhood, and that now he has a 3-month old son who will get to play with them.

We chatted pleasantly for a few minutes, and I walked on up the aisle, looking for books. In a little while, the young man walked up to me and said, “I want you to meet my wife and son.”

I was so surprised and touched. His wife is a lovely person with beautiful red hair. She held their son in her arms. That baby turned around and looked at me and his face broke open with smiles. He laughed out loud. He was the most adorable child I think I had ever seen. He bubbled over with joy, and he made me feel wonderfully happy and so honored to meet this nice person’s family.

“This,” I told my husband later, “is why I talk to strangers.” It was such a wonderful experience for me. I buzzed with good feelings, which return every time I think about it

I’m going to try to put things like this in my head as often as i can. That other stuff sucks the life out of you and refills your head with despair. Whew! I’m going to go out and meet some more good people. I’ve had it with the other kind.

Resistance

 Resist. I’m seeing this word more often lately. I have a sign in my yard with a picture of our Statue of Liberty holding a sign that says “Resist”. I’ve seen similar signs in my neighborhood and all over town. 

I’m a word nerd, and I have been thinking about what “resist” means to me and to others. When I posted it, I had in mind resisting tyranny. Tyranny is another word I need to define. The most accurate definition, applicable to what I see happening in our country is:  cruel, unreasonable, illegal, or arbitrary use of power or control.

That’s a scary mouthful. I see meanness and cruelty on the news everyday. I see a powerful assault on our freedoms. It’s the reason I planted the sign.

I felt good when I planted it, and maybe a little brave, but I don’t think it is going to be enough. Looking up the definition isn’t going to be enough either. I’m thinking more and more that circumstances are going to demand action.

I’ve gone to a protest, and I am likely to go to future ones. I’ve written letters and signed petitions going to our Congressional representatives, who turn a deaf ear. I’ve given money to organizations who are fighting tyranny on every front. I don’t think this is going to be enough.

I have no clue as to what I may be called to do for my country, or what I would be willing to do. I never expected to have to ask myself this question.

 Resistance is certainly in the eye of the beholder. People fight tyranny in different ways. There are those who believe that resistance itself is tyranny. It’s a moral problem that each person is going to have to solve for him or herself.

I have, for now, chosen my own way of resisting, and that is the tiny little act of being kind and compassionate to others. We are so divided, as a country, so sure that our problems are caused by those people over there, even though those people might be Americans too. 

My goal is to heal the growing chasm that is tearing us apart, by doing a simple thing - reach out to everyone you meet - make an effort to connect in some small way that leaves that other person feeling better. 

Reach out to people who are different from you or believe something different from you. I find that people who expect hatred and derision, are often the most happy to receive kindness and respect, even in passing.  I am likely to learn ways in which we are not so different and to feel less fearful about differences we do have.

It’s my way of saying, we won’t be torn apart. We won’t be changed. It is my intention to be a kind and compassionate person, despite the chaos and division sown by our current administration.

As I have said, the division is wide and filled with unhappiness and fear. I know healing is a big goal, and my little way doesn’t move mountains. But, it’s something I can do, right now, every day, and I’m sticking to it. I’m resisting.