Spoiler alert-there is a bit of positive thought ahead but first the news.
Child psychologist Dr Ava Siegler says we are in the midst of a "national disaster" and parents are the first responders.
Dr Siegler and others in psychology says decency, civility, knowledge and truthfulness "are not values of the trump government."
data points
The recent George Washington University poll finds
- 71% of voters say trump's behavior is not what they expect from a President
- 68% of Americans believe his words and actions could accidentally get us involved in an international conflict
- 63% of Americans say the country is on the wrong track
the therapy
David H. Rosmarin a professor at Harvard Medical school and the director of the Spirituality and Mental Health Program at McLean Hospital has good advice.
Rosmarin says we should set aside 1-3 minutes a day to worry about the worst things that can happen and accept the reality that we are not in control.
He suggests we take time off from the news and social media.
Dr Rosmarin and many of his colleagues tell us that in these days of trump we should eat well, work out, and work on personal relationships.
There is a consensus we should spend time with friends and loved ones and focus on enjoying the company and the good feelings of the moment.
Indeed many of us feel a sense of depression. Normally mellow and relaxed people are trapped in a sense of anger and even rage.
As parents and grandparents we should tell children the meanness, selfishness, ego centricity and lies of the president and some of his supporters and advisors are anti American, wrong and-this is important-will eventually be punished or corrected.
This reminds me of the "bad things happen to good people" advice and help books. Most of us have faced challenges and difficulties, uncertain of outcomes. In those periods we are counseled to rely on those we love and care for, people and belief, to understand however desperate a situation there are things for which to be grateful and to remember, all things change, this too will pass.
I'm not advocating this, but simply reporting-as we have communicated with our grand daughter, and even with adults, about how wrong is the behavior, tone and mood of the president, especially his pathological lies, we feel better.
Telling the truth and affirming the positive values that once undergirded this democratic republic is a one day at a time way of combating the tension, toxicity and corruption of this time in America.
catch the good beams when you can
See you down the trail.
