“Whatever the present moment contains,
Accept it as if you had chosen it…
Make it your friend and ally,
Not your enemy.”

-Eckhart Tolle

It is funny that I try to write these blogs like I know it all. I don’t. When I was regularly writing for “physicians living intentionally”, people used to say that I am wise beyond my age. I am not.

Most specifically, it all came down tumbling down when a series of political events unfolded. I was in the depth of social media and was reading what others were writing. Some thoughts were about how they supported a candidate that I do not feel is fit to rule the country.

I tried to see their side. I truly did, but I failed and became disappointed. The vitriol and toxic back and forth on line let me hit the disengage button and I left FaceBook for much needed peace of mind.

This got me thinking. Is life about being happy? Having it our way, to have our team win the game? For us to catch the bus even when we are late.

Can you be happy in the middle of a global pandemic with such bipartisan elections underway?

If you can’t jump for joy, are you then to fret over it and make you lose your own peace?

What if life was not about highs and lows but about a sense of contentment? Pausing to see what you really find meaning in life and what makes your life worth living for.

I think it’s fair to say that as much as unhappy and tragic moments are fleeting, so are moments of pure joy and happiness.

Life is about neither. Once we wrap our minds around that, it is so much easier to let go of these roller coasters. It doesn’t matter who wins or loses, it matters that we have our own back. That we show up for ourselves and those we love.

The world is made up of opposites. So much joy has been brought to my life because of the bizarre situation of 2020. My times at home with the kids, and how they have become the best of friends. How I decided to stick my neck out and put my voice out there. In the form of a podcast, blog and coaching people on their mindset.

Contentment. That is what I have learned to coach myself on. Sometimes it is easier said than done. If we make our voices heard and then show up in our own life and our communities the way we wish our politicians would show up for us.

That is what we have control over. Nothing else.

As long as we are chasing happiness, there is always that nagging feeling of loss when we don’t get it. What if this moment is exactly the way it is meant to be. Whoever wins the election, it was meant to be. We keep having our own back.

To show up for each other. Not to negate the severity of the suffering. But to allow us to show up for ourselves and those around us.

So while I choose to not watch the news and have distanced myself from the chaos of social media, I will intentionally believe this moment is meant to be exactly this way.

So much love to all of you.