By Lori Welch Brown

With the election looming, life is getting more crazy by the hour it seems. As of this writing there have been two attempts on former President Trump’s life. I’ve lost track of school shootings, and both sides seem to disagree on everything from the price of eggs in 2020 to the fate of some missing pets in Ohio. Don’t get me started on international news—it would be impossible because I’ve been avoiding it like an Ozempic ad.

Social media is a total melt down. I’ve paused several ‘friends’ because I can’t take the hate spreading, not to mention the dissemination of fake news. People—check your sources! Anyone with access to wifi and a laptop can write a ‘news’ story so just imagine what a Russian intelligence office can knock out. Don’t mention AI to me because I am 1000 percent head in the sand on that one. Now I understand why my parents refused to learn how to set the timer on their VCR. At some point, you just have to draw the line on tech. Speaking of which, stop sending me links to TikTok. I politely refuse to introduce another rabbit hole of doom and gloom into my life.

It’s hard to know what to believe. Even the ‘credible’ news sources are biased so while there is truth, it is painted in a certain light. Like Taylor Swift so eloquently said, “I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice. Your research is all yours to do, and the choice is yours to make.” So, do your homework. Unfortunately, the research isn’t easy, but a lot is riding on it.

Bret Stephens, Opinion columnist for the NYT, when describing his current state of mind “so readers can understand how it stands with uncertain voters like me,” said “If Trump wins the election, I’ll feel sick. If Harris wins, I’ll feel scared.”

For some of us, there are no clear cut, easy answers which leaves me feeling a bit queasy. Frankly, I’m still scratching my head wondering how we got here.

In a world where truth is stranger than fiction (people bbq’ing pets?), there are some things I know to be true—first, people are inherently good. There are more people who will do the right thing, even when no one is looking, then there are bad people. I believe this in my bones.

Second—whatever’s gonna happen, something is gonna happen. And while that may be a little unsettling, there is also some solace to be found. There is only so much that I can do, and I try my best to stay focused on what is in my lane, i.e., showing up for myself and others; staying informed, but in a way that is healthy for me, i.e., not going down the rabbit hole of social media; showing up at the polls; keeping my conversations and/or what I’m putting out into the world factual, focused, and positive.

Third—I know that everyone is entitled to their opinions, and even if we disagree on politics, it doesn’t make them bad people. It just makes them bad researchers, and we can only blame the school system there. Just kidding! It’s the parents who are to blame—always!

But seriously, it’s hard to be in the world when it feels so divisive—especially when the divisiveness is sitting across the Thanksgiving table from you or lying next to you in bed or blowing up Facebook with their conspiracy theory fake news memes written by God knows who.

For the record, I’d like to say that Facebook—and all social media for that matter—was invented for the sole purpose of spreading happiness vis a vis sharing recipes for meatloaf taco cheesecake and adorable pets being pushed in stroller pics—not political rhetoric. So, stop ruining that for me, please. 

Someone once told me in a heated, non-political discussion that I needed to “take off my rose-colored glasses.” While I’m pretty sure it was meant as a barb—and that’s how I initially took it—I now see it as a compliment.

My rose-colored glasses are my super power as well as my survival mechanism. When the world feels topsy-turvy and the sky is about to fall, I put on my rose-colored glasses and am able to find a piece of positivity. And you know what? Those glasses help me see the good in everyone—even the folks intent on stealing my joy.

What is irksome is all the tongue biting and restraint. Instead of taking the bait and responding/engaging, I’ve opted for silence. But make no mistake, my silence is not rooted in weakness, but in preservation. Mostly, my own, but also the relationships that I cherish that are more important than whoever wins an election or whether or not to vaccinate or who ate my leftovers. These are weighty issues and while we may not agree, we do need to find a common ground. Because if we don’t, at some point, we may look around and find ourselves isolated and alone and no one benefits from that.

Here’s another thing I know—I’m likely not the smartest person in the room, especially when the subject is politics, so there’s always something to learn. And, if we aren’t open and available to learning, we might as well be dead. Admittedly, I could use some practice when it comes to not shutting down and/or getting frustrated when someone offers an opinion that is the polar opposite of my own, but I’m trying to do better. It’s only through understanding where another person is coming from that we are able to bridge the gaps or at least come to a mutual understanding of agreeing to disagree.

Perhaps the most important thing I know is that just as we have gotten through 9/11, COVID-19, a myriad of horrific natural catastrophes such as Hurricane Katrina, not to mention our own personal losses, we will get through whatever comes our way and we will do it together. Just as we always have. And we will come out stronger because of it—whatever ‘it’ is. Because that’s who we are as Americans and humans.

On one point I agree—we don’t need to make America great again. We never stopped being great, but we can always be better. Being better humans and neighbors will make us a better, stronger nation.

In the meantime, grab your broom, buckle up, and get ready for a bumpy ride. This trick or treat might prove to be the scariest ever.

About the Author: Lori is a local writer, painter and pet lover who loves to share her experiences and expertise with our readers. She has been penning a column for the OTC for over 25 years. Please follow Lori online on Medium for more missives like this.