How many times today did you vote for the kind of life you want to live in?
That Negativity All Around Us Right Now
Do you ever find yourself having the same conversation with different people? That happens a lot for me. Most recently it is about the negativity in this election. It’s just too much. It has come to an overwhelming apex (at least I hope it’s an apex). The election is tomorrow and everyone is worried about the possibility of a loss. That fear seems to be bringing out the worst in people. And that is the conversation I have been having. Talking about a lack of kindness and compassion and love. Talking about something terrible, racist, misogynistic that someone said.
This morning I was scrolling on facebook and I saw a post like this and immediately I was thinking that I shouldn’t be on facebook because it is just too negative. But then I put myself in check because all day yesterday I was so delighted with facebook. I memory came up with two friends who have passed away. It was sad but also beautiful. And that inspired me to ask people to share the memories they are grateful to have about someone who has passed away. It was heart-tuggingly lovely. All day I read these beautiful responses honoring their loved ones which reminded me how grateful I am for all my loved ones.
So really, it wasn’t that the negativity on facebook outnumbered the positivity. It was just that I was emphasizing the negative, paying more attention to the negative, or just so damn afraid of it that it took over my thoughts. Practicing gratitude does not ignore problems but it also doesn’t dismiss the good. We can hole both hope and concern. A gratitude practice is a practice of seeing the world as it is, the good and the bad, with eyes wide open. It is noticing, acknowledging and appreciating what we want to see more of in the world.
Every single day, every single moment, every aspect of our lives is an opportunity to, as our quote today says, vote for the kind of world we want to live in. So if we want more gratitude in the world, we can be grateful. If we want more love in the world, we can be loving. If we want more peace in the world, we can be peaceful. We can also take it further into direct action. If we want a more just world, we can take action to improve social justice. If we want a healthier planet we can reduce our use and waste.
What kind of world do you want to live in? Make this moment a vote for that world.
Every aspect of our lives is, in a sense, a vote for the kind of world we want to live in.
~Frances Moore Lappéautho
What are you grateful for that you’d like to see more of?
FORGOTTEN GRATITUDE: Last week I was also grateful for the right to vote and early voting with no lines … Playing fetch with a cat … All of the sadness that reminded me of the love I am capable of.
