Dearests,

I don’t know what to say. But I’ll just turn up anyway.

Everything is atumble in my head and heart.

I’ll just turn up anyway.

Firstly – I’m not an American. I’m an Australian. And I might be half a world away, but even here, in Australia, it feels like a quake in the earth’s surface. Americans – we care deeply about who is President. It affects us all around the world. And the vast, vast majority of us here feel stunned, shocked, scared.

I cannot imagine how it would feel to be in that epicentre of the quake… to be living there in the US.

I’m so sorry if you are there and feeling scared, unsafe, worried, stressed because of this. That’s completely understandable. You are not alone in feeling that. I wish you didn’t have to experience this. I wish we didn’t have to go through this.

So, here’s what I’m thinking:

1. I’m shocked. I’m scared. I’m worried. I’m not even in the US, and I’m not in his line of fire (beyond having a pussy). Whatever feelings you are having right now, you are allowed to have. Comments like “Get over it cry babies” or “You need to get over it and support the new President” are not helpful. When someone is in pain, we don’t negate it with shoulds. Our feelings are valid and we are allowed to feel them all. I also don’t agree with the idea that we need to support any nation’s leader who we don’t agree with the beliefs of. I wouldn’t have agreed with Hitler. I didn’t agree with Tony Abbott. I don’t agree with George Christensen MP. Being able to disagree with a political leader is a democratic right.

2. I don’t believe Trump is the cause of a toxic environment. He is a symptom. He is a boil that has erupted to show there was an infection all along. The infection of sexism, racism, abuse and greed. Our planet is suffering, our people are suffering. We can no longer ignore that anymore.

3. Now more than ever, we are needed and important. We can no longer afford to be complacent or ambivalent about our power. I think we are realising now that we can no longer rely at all on political leaders to make the world a better place. That is our job. Our goals, our dreams, our wishes… these are the sacred vessels to take us into a better future.

4. I am activated more than ever to speak up, to make a change, to donate, to volunteer, to do something, to take care of our LGBTQI, Muslim, non-white and non-male communities. We can no longer afford to not do something. Our actions must align with our intentions.

5. Our energy and actions are needed to continue making the world a safer, better, healthier place. AND at the same time we need to hold in our other hand the fact that we need self care more than ever before. We cannot give from an empty well. We cannot be burnt out activists. If we react from frantic energy, instead of taking the time to go inside, tend to ourselves, be still and centered, and create from that centre… we are not helping with the very energy that is needed to create this. Journalling, mediation, healing, yoga, sleep, therapy and sacred women’s circles are critical. We need to recognise this self care is no longer optional. It is not selfish. It is a huge priority. It’s a dichotomy for us to hold both the need for selfless service in the world and deep self care. But we can, and we will, and we must. And we will support each other through this.

6. I don’t believe vilifying Trump voters is helpful. In order for there to be healing, I believe we need to listen and understand more. What is it about Trump that made them believe it was the right choice? It seems many voted not because of his racism and misogyny, but in spite of it. Many of them believe his words were just a bluff. They were inspired instead by a different way, by opting out of the current political system. What are they feeling scared and afraid and worried about? It seems to me they want change from corporate America and from the current political system. We need to understand more about that. Engagement and understanding is so important… so a new vision can be worked towards together.

(This however does not apply to the alt right/KKK/misogynist/homophobic crowd who voted precisely because of the views Trump spouted. I don’t know what to think about them, except for this being one last uprising of flawed views that will soon no longer exist on the planet.)

7. If you don’t believe I should talk about politics or hold political views, feel free not to buy from me. It’s okay, you don’t have to tell me. I realise I will offend some people. I will never, ever attempt to be beige enough so as not to upset any person ever. I have a platform. That, to me, is sacred. I will use that platform as a way to share my voice on things I believe are important. If you don’t believe I have that right as a business owner, don’t purchase from me. As spelled out in our refund policy, you don’t get to receive a refund because I express political views that are different from yours. If you don’t believe I have the right to comment on another country’s political system, you are most welcome to that opinion. We do not however live in countries that are a silo from one another. Our country’s leaders affect the world.

8. You are not alone. You are not alone. You are not alone. We are all in this together. In these times, it is even more important for you to be gentle with you. This has been a trauma and a shock. Detach from the media. Drink water, take baths, walk outside, hug animals and people, meditate, journal, get therapy. Return to your sacred centre of stillness. And create the change from there.

All my love,