The new year’s first work week has begun for me, and I got almost everything on today’s agenda done. I paused to marvel at a flock of western bluebirds sipping meltwater in the gutter visible from the kitchen window. They seem to migrate through here in winter and don’t stay long, so this was a delightful treat, and confirmation of my guess at last night’s stocky little silhouette in the top of a juniper just after sunset. I’m grateful for the flicker of quiet joy this moment brought to a day of relative contentment. I’m grateful for the good work I get to do, and look forward to teaching another cohort of mindfulness students starting class this week.
Outside of Mirador, it was a momentous day, the fourth anniversary of the first coup attempt by a US president, and the day that now convicted felon was declared president again. As we enter this new regime, a little mindfulness can be helpful for our own inner peace, our outer peace, our relationships with family and community, and our overall wellbeing. If you’re interested in an introduction to daily mindfulness practice, I’ll also be cohosting a 28 Day Practice Circle through the Mindful Life Program. Here’s the link to learn what that’s about.
Some helpful (and mindful) tips for getting through the hard times ahead were recommended by R. Hubbell and can be found here. It’s telling, for me, that the second of the seventeen is to Cultivate Empathy. I’d take it the next step and say Cultivate Compassion. Empathy is a great thing, and as authors of this list G. Lakoff and G. Duran write, “One way authoritarians defeat democracy is by trying to destroy empathy. Their strategies depend on dehumanization, demonization, and division. One of the best ways to resist is to actively cultivate empathy. Do your best to understand other people’s feelings and perspectives. Empathy is a powerful antidote to fascism and hatred. Democracy depends on empathy – you can’t have democracy without it.”
But empathy speaks only to the ability to feel resonance with others’ emotions: Compassion adds the element of wanting to reduce their suffering. Speaking of which, it was excruciating to watch Kamala Harris read the results of the electoral college vote for president: I’ve been feeling compassion for her ever since November 5 knowing she’d have to do that today. Can you imagine? If you can, that’s empathy. If you feel moved to help reduce the suffering that will ensue from her necessary pronouncement, that’s compassion.
