I remember waking up on 9/11 (2001) watching the twin towers fall and knowing deep in my gut our world had changed forever.
I woke up on 11/9 (2016) watching Mr. Trump give his acceptance speech knowing in a different way, our world had changed forever.
If you follow me on social media you know I made a deliberate and intentional choice to stay off social media that day. I wanted to respond and not react much like I did on 9/11.
On 9/11 I worked for the Portland Oregon Visitors Association in convention services, I knew then it was part of my job to take care of the visitors to our town and may be going to the airport to help people. I was ready to get to that work. The energy of doing something was way easier than the energy of being with the hurt, pain and confusion of that day.
Now on 11/9, I own my own company where I work teaching leadership. I opened my Facebook page to many private messages and emails from my community asking for help. Looking for answers and comfort. Upon careful reflection here is what I know. Our world is changing. That is the essential nature of good itself. I often say, “My life is good and getting better.” If I believe this, I must believe this about our election also.
This is our choice point. You can say this is the end of the world as we know it and do nothing. Or, you can say – this is the end of the world and become something different.
I feel, sense, and know that the world on some level does not need us to do anything. The world needs us to choose to consciously be something different.
Let me define these for you. Do is to take an action. Be is a state of existence. For many the doing is easy. It is our natural reaction. Being is not our natural reaction it requires a pause, a moment of stepping back and looking at the big picture.
Be kind
Be joyful
Be grateful
Be understanding
Being is not a one-time act, it’s a lifetime of becoming, a series of daily action that lift us to our highest as individuals and as a collective human family.
On 9/11 I was never called to go “do” something for visitors to our city. I was called to be available for meeting planners if they needed help. I became more helpful and our world did not come to an end.
On 11/9 I did not rush to do anything. I chose to be kind, and listen. I called my friends who are vocal Trump supporters and asked them to help me see what I didn’t see in the election. I asked them to help me learn how this man is a good leader. Our world did not come to an end. We can choose to be in resistance to all these changes at the international, United States of America, city level, and in our homes. Or we can choose to be in flow with it. You see I still believe my life is good and getting better.
Everything changes and ends. On 9/11 some celebrated, some mourned for all those lost. We knew no matter what the way of our world ending. On 11/9 some mourned for the changes, and some celebrated. The way of our world ended. Both of these events define and continue to define who we are becoming as a human family.
It’s true; it is the end of our world, as we know it. Your only choice is how you want to be with the changes. Choose wisely. It’s time for stepping up to being and becoming not simply doing.