I think I’m still processing this, as I’m sure everyone is. However, I’ve been surprisingly positive about the whole thing, which is rare for me. And I’ll explain why in a minute, but first, what I realized about myself is that when something tragic happened in the world or around me, I felt like I was supposed to feel like shit about it. That if I didn’t, it meant that I didn’t care or it wasn’t important to me, or I was a sociopath because I wasn’t grieving like everyone else. And yes, part of this is learning to honour my feelings because I wasn’t always amazing at that, but part of it was that I have an ability to see things from a higher perspective. I am now committed to honouring this about myself and not forcing myself to feel like shit because everyone else is. This is also an invitation for you to do so also if you resonate with this pattern.

Trump won for a reason. Sometimes things need to get much worse before they can get better. The atrocities that we’ve seen in the last few days didn’t just start happening in the last few days. The one that really stands out is the image that says ‘make America white again’ next to the image of a swastika. This shocked the fuck out of me, but I don’t think it should have. I think some if not most of us have been living in a bit of a bubble. This stuff is actually happening and we can’t do anything about it if we don’t know it exists at the magnitude and severity that it does.

There is some deep deep darkness living in the heart of the free world and they’ve now elected a leader that is teaching millions and millions of people that racism and sexism and xenophobia and rape and…and…and is OK! It’s definitely not ok but what’s happening now, and this is where the positive part comes in, is that people are standing up and speaking out. There’s no way that there would be the same number of people standing up and speaking out with the same passion and commitment and urgency if Hilary had won. So this is why this is a positive thing. Bring the darkness to the surface so actual real long-lasting change can me made. It’s the only way.

What can we do? Geez, I’m so glad you asked. We’re all on this planet to fulfill a certain purpose, to share our unique gift with the world. Everyone has one. No exception. Now is the time to find out what that is, if you don’t already know, and use it. Share it. Be it. All the time, e’ery damn day. Margaret Mead said, ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.’ For Vancouverites, you may recognize this quote from the side of The Foundation restaurant on Main.

This is what is going to change the world. We already have the blueprint for positive change within us, to create a harmonious world internally, within our close community and globally. But so many of us are afraid of our power, of how great we are, of how talented we are and what it will mean for us and for others if and when we become that greatness. I work with people all the time who are afraid of their power and have been and am probably still very afraid of my own. But this is some of the most important healing we can do. Especially now, with all the fuckery going on down south. So find it and be it. Share love wherever you can, with yourself and others. And trust the divine plan of the universe. It’s infinitely wiser than we are.

I leave you with this quote by Marianne Williamson, 'Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.'