Election? What election?

Maybe it’s leftover PTSD from 2016, but I’m surprisingly reluctant to look at any news until tomorrow morning.

It gives me extra motivation to get to bed early — with my book — making it the perfect night for this meme.

Grateful for democracy

I’ve never before felt such a powerful sense of relief after voting in an election. And I’ve never before felt so much urgency about voting early.

Tonight I’m feeling grateful for America and for democracy. Neither is perfect (nothing is in this world), but I definitely prefer them to the alternatives.

I love knowing my vote counts.

Embracing acceptance

At Ananda, every Sunday service includes a reading from Affirmations for Self-Healing by Swami Kriyananda. And — with Election Day bearing down upon us — the one for today is so perfect that I’m including it below in its entirety.

Week 44 – ACCEPTANCE
One of the most difficult lessons in life is to learn to accept things as they are. How much energy we waste in trying to wish away the inevitable! “If only this hadn’t happened!” “If only we had reached there in time!” The “if only’s” and “might have been’s” in life keep us from dealing realistically with what is.

Acceptance comes from knowing that reality lies within ourselves, and that all else is a dream. Acceptance of that one reality makes everything else acceptable. Instead of learning to come to grips with a thousand individual challenges, therefore, make the supreme effort to accept God unconditionally into your heart. Accept all that comes in life as coming from His hands. He will give you what is best for you, if you live for Him alone.

Affirmation

I accept with calm impartiality whatever comes my way. Free in my heart, I am not conditioned by any outward circumstance.

Prayer

Shine Thy delusion-cauterizing light into the hidden nooks of my heart’s feelings, lest somewhere, without my conscious knowledge, I have not accepted Thee. If ever I err, strengthen me to accept Thy discipline, for in Thy will alone lies the happiness I am seeking.

Truly comprehending this is an extremely tall order, but I’m grateful for the reminder to even try not to wish away the inevitable — whatever that may turn out to be! 🙏🕉🙏