Business as Usual

How, exactly, do you carry on with business as usual when you are convinced the world could end at any moment?

I think my trajectory over the past several months has been like many others’ — I spent a lot of time and energy on Trump following the election, and after a continual cycle of getting mad then seeking distraction then getting mad again, it ultimately started feeling futile because nothing was getting better.

So for sanity’s sake, I started deliberately shifting my focus away from Trump and the terrible things he was doing or encouraging others to do. Initially I tried instead to focus on the actual politics going on in Washington, but that is difficult when so much of the press is dedicated to the Dumpster Fire In Chief.

As time has progressed, I find myself trying to dig back into work and family and “normal” life, all the while keeping my ear to the ground and continuing to read, but with the intent of staying informed without staying enraged.

But as I watch, I find my feelings of anger and disgust changing to fear. President Temper Tantrum loves the idea of military might, and I suspect his desire to show the world how bad-ass he is will eventually lead us directly into World War III.

I am not speaking metaphorically nor am I using hyperbole.

He has shown that he does not care about the majority of Americans. He would likely be able to justify massive American death tolls as “acceptable losses” in the competition to prove who’s figurative manhood is bigger.

Again, it is true that he is just one man, but he is one man with a big red button on his desk that doesn’t just order Pepsi.

So what are folks like me supposed to do? We see what’s coming, but have no power to change it. How do we move forward and focus on making positive impacts when there is such a high probability that it will all end badly?

I guess our challenge is to remain vigilant, put our efforts into where we can make a difference, and try to foster hope wherever possible.

Business as usual, indeed.