Detachment

I have a confession to make:  I hate election years.  My experience is that during elections the world becomes a mine field with one misstep permanently offending at least 3 people within ear shot.  These missteps can be large or seemingly harmless but they can destroy any good will that existed and take months if not years to repair. One of the best strategies I’ve learned for these times is simply to detach.  To detach I have to accept that during these times there are no safe political discussions and that it is in everyone’s best interest to talk about sports, the weather or my favorite woodworking project.  This takes a change in consciousness, a willingness to let go of the controversial statements, loaded questions and provocative opinions that seem to find their way into conversations.  A willingness to understand that all the verbal jousting isn’t that important and that to engage in it is not only counterproductive but self-destructive.  There is no benefit, only an alienation of friends and cohorts.

But … there’s still that part of my mind that always wants to respond.  That part that seems to say, “Oh, yeah, well let me tell you something.”  An irrational self that is bound and determined to show that other person just how wrong s/he is.  In the twelve step tradition this is called insanity.  The act of taking a course of action that you know is doomed to failure but you are incapable of stopping.  And I know the answer is to work the steps.  But, first, I need to enlighten them and then I’ll call my sponsor.

May the next 8 months be ones in which your life is filled with change and growth.  May you have exciting activities with close friends to be involved in.  And may all your discussions involve topics that make you happy and fulfilled. 

John