Daily C.H.U.B. (Church of the Unmade Bed)
Added 2018-09-04 12:01:00 +0000 UTCOfferings: Buddhist Wisdom for Every Day by Danielle and Olivier Follmi
Now, more than ever, I try to heed these words. People will call me a "dirty centrist" for it and I'll get dragged for "not taking a side" or "not standing for a belief."
For anyone wondering where I stand politically, this is where I stand: in the center of myself, trying to maintain an internal balance. It's not only important for my spiritual condition, but also for my sobriety. I don't have the luxury of being filled with resentment and rage all day. Some people do. I'm not one of them. My entire life is a constant battle of avoiding the extremism that comes so naturally to me.
Over the past two years, the world has become extremely polarized with many people demanding you choose a side. As the extremes have become more extreme, I've tried to stay objective. It has not been easy. Lines in the sand have been drawn. Social pressure to conform is tangible. My peers have unfollowed me on social media and accused me of "dogwhistling to MAGA." Groupthink partakes in regular draggings that ruin lives--we live in fear of speaking our truth less our truth goes viral and is deemed "wrong."
I am diligent in my attempt to see things from all perspectives and perhaps this will be my downfall and I think about this often. As Malcom X said, "A man who stands for nothing, falls for anything."
But if I stand for anything, it's balance. Not allowing my feelings, my own biases to stand in the way of facts. Not catastrophizing every single daily event as if it's the end of the world. Reminding myself that I'm riding the waves of infinity, that this will all pass and that in the face of chaos, the best thing I can do--is remain calm.
