Think about it and do what you can

It’s challenging to find a mental wellness topic this week. I ask myself and you, my readers, to search for what we believe and want. What do you stand for? Do you want peace or war? Compassion or hate? Civility or combat? Democracy, Communism, or Monarchy? Do you want to tear down or build up? I’m worried about us. Sterling, CO, is not protected from suicide, homicide, or mass shootings. We are as vulnerable as the next town.

What do you do? What can you do? Do you do what you can to provide safety and security?

I have a great respect for many people in our little corner of the world, but I don’t understand how neighbors and families can divide and lose communication because of different points of view. People even change churches because one is too liberal—or too conservative. The last I checked, we have the same God. I think we forget or refuse to practice what we learned in kindergarten about the Golden Rule.

The United States is not united, and Patrick Henry was wise when he said in 1799: “Let us trust God, and our better judgment to set us right hereafter. United we stand, divided we fall.”

There is nothing I can say to make people listen more than they speak—to try to understand someone else’s point of view—to find a common ground where we can all stand together and change what needs changing. We don’t want to grow a more robust division of “we and them.”

What do you want for America?

I want my old days. I remember a world where friends didn’t know who was Republican or Democrat. It didn’t matter. Even in the voting booth, we voted for the best candidate with less consideration for their political affiliation.

What’s happened to agreeing to disagree without threats, fear, ridicule, and exclusion? We used to be kinder and happier. They go together, you know. Have you ever met a cruel, unkind person who was happy? I haven’t.

I’m just sad at the state we are in. Why don’t we brainstorm and look for solutions to what divides us? Humans have the ability. I understand that like-minds hang out together, and we avoid those who hurt us, but LISTENING to other’s points of view on challenging and controversial issues could lead to understanding, acceptance, or at least essential tolerance.

I’m discouraged because we don’t give it much effort, and we could—would—should. We pay consequences for our divisions, and in my experience, it’s not pretty or productive.

Join me; soften your opinions, and listen more than you speak. Significant shifts happen with understanding.

Until the next time: Live while you live.

Jennifer Goble, Ph.D., LPC, is the author of “My Clients…My Teachers,” and the blogger and writer of Rural Women Stories: www.ruralwomenstories.com.