Living After, In and For

I tend not to be someone who wallows in misery much.  I actually just wrote a passage for another project where I noted that I like the song by Alyssa Bonagura entitled, I Make My Own Sunshine.  So, when people took to the streets or spent days crying over our recent Presidential election, I was baffled.  I’m not trying to be insensitive, but people, come on, staying home to cry?  

I mean I didn’t vote for the guy either but if I learned correctly, there are checks and balances in our government and last I checked, we had term limits.  Admittedly, I do not sink too deeply into politics but surely if those things had changed I’d have noticed.

I recently read a blog by Deidra Riggs which inspired me to think about the “living after, in, and for.”  Ms. Riggs wrote a beautiful blog which can be accessed here:  Deidra Riggs' Blog

Living After:  So, now that it is after the election………so?  The United States has a new Commander and Chief who will take office around January 20, 2017.  What does that mean for me?  I do not know yet.  I need to wait and see.  I am not going to run out into the street in lament because nothing is certain.  

I have been involved in plenty of crisis situations in 26 years of university life and I’ve found that when things are getting tense and unknown, the best thing is to no add to the tension and to seek information.

Running into the street in protest could get you plowed over so I’ll stay on solid ground.  I am not going to wail and lament because what good will that do?  

What positive contribution does that make?

To seek information will take time-probably a couple of years before we know for sure about certain things.  So why make my life and the lives of those around me tenser by adding to the negativity?

Another thing I’m going to do is rely on my faith.  I did see a little meme on social media that is quite profound despite its overuse:  Regardless of who is President, Jesus is still King.  I like that.  While I admit it was overused and is cliché’ it makes a solid point.  Remember who it is that you worship and why.

Living In:  In some ways I have already addressed this.  I’m going to be positive and I am going to contribute to the greater good, and I am going to withhold judgment.  I have worked pretty hard to be positive and objective throughout this election cycle.  Many of my friends had no idea which “team” I was even on.  Ironically two individuals both made an assumption that I agreed with them and would be voting accordingly.  Both were wrong! 

I’m going to continue going to church and do my best to be a good person and active, engaged citizen.  As I live in this time, I am going to pray for our nation and other nations as well.  Let’s be frank, we can all use Divine intervention in any way we can get it.  Shit is real out there in the real world and you just have to do the best you can.

Living For:  I have learned that it is during some of the hardest times that I really come to know my non-negotiable values.  I learn what I will and will not budge on and how true I’ll stay to my word when times are really tough.  So, what am I going to live for during these next four years?  I’m going to live for God, civility, and growth.

For me, God, the Divine, Spirit is my foundation.  I rely on my faith to get me through and to inspire me to new heights.  I’m going to continue seeking wisdom and enlightenment in all that I do.

I’m going seek civility.  Being civil costs me nothing and I will continue to spread kindness and love as best I can.

I’m going to seek growth.  I’m going to learn more about decision and how I might best serve others as I go into this new Presidency.  I’ll strive to not just ignore the happenings (as I have in the past) but work to learn bi-partisan concerns for major issues and educate others for the greater good.

Alyssa Bonagura – I Make My Own Sunshine Lyrics

Everything is wonderful
Everything is great
Free as a bird singing outside my window pane
Got a fresh new start
It's a brand new day
And I got lots of love to give away

It don't matter if it's raining
Nothing can phase me
I make my own sunshine
And if you think you can break me
Baby you're crazy
I make my own sunshine

Hey, let's make a rainbow
Look for the pot o' gold
I'll show you how to keep it nice and easy
Even if a cloud starts forming on my lovely day
There's nothing, no nothing, that could stand in my way

It don't matter if it's raining
Nothing can phase me
I make my own sunshine
And if you think you can break me
Baby you're crazy
I make my own sunshine