24 Comments

I love this so much. As a society we have become us and them, either/or and we have forgotten about "and." Two things can be true at the same time and maybe we need to get away from the edges and find our way back to center. All of us. And thanks for your courage in writing this.

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Thank you Elise. I’ve found myself thinking about this fable a lot lately as I hit a series of events what could be labeled poorly timed bad luck. I’ve also been coming back to your piece on spiral dynamics leading up to the election, and my Ken Wilber book arrived on the day of (a small synchronicity). It’s really helped me understand and have empathy for others who voted differently, especially people who don’t have the luxury to operate mostly in the green. I have less empathy for the billionaires stuck in the red and the orange, but nonetheless, it gives me insight into their mindset. Thanks for all that you do!

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Thank you so much for so eloquently expressing what I'm feeling right now.

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Thank you for your sanity

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The sling-shotting of incessant finger pointing is exhausting. And futile. It often results in us going in circles, chasing tails. Thank you for writing this, Elise. This stance brings me comfort in the aftermath of the election.

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the world is a beautiful place.

you ARE the light and all good is seeded in darkness.

i think its a bit hyperbolic to believe that these are the darkest days in america. but there exist shadowy figures who have nothing good in store for any of us on either side of the false spectrum.

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..."the world is not ours to sanitize." Elise, this is so profound and I feel something shift inside when I read these words. I *want* to sanitize though. I want to push all the values I hold sacred to the forefront and bury the rest. I want us as a species to move beyond this recurring moment. And it's thinking that's even possible, ever, that's so heartbreaking.

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I really like that folk tale - and your common sense! I was attacked by a burglar five years ago and left disabled. However, I've moved on: to a nicer home. Back to studying for my degree (finally!) And I've jettisoned a lot of people who were really in my life for the wrong reasons, and held tight to the good people. I don't believe in good and bad luck per se, but for me it's our reaction to things that happen that are important. Took me a while to learn this, but I'm there now.

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Beautiful, Elise, thank you. Yes it was absolutely meant to be that you sat next to Diana Nyad! (I hope you have her on the podcast by the way!) Appreciate the share of the Mary Oliver poem and the 2022 newsletter and your reminder to feel through everything, right to the ground. Then we can pick ourselves up and continue the fight.

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Yes. Thank you.

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I love this. This is an important read.

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This is so well said. Also, it’s a genuine comfort to see you and Diana together today. Thank you for continuing to do the work

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Thanks Elise.

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Diana Nyad!! She is such a huge inspiration. What a thrill to get to sit on a plane ride together. I wish I could listen to both of your speeches this week (will they be taped?).

These words feel important, so I'm pulling them out here for anyone only trolling comments this week. This really nails it for me: "Here is what I hope we can do in this election’s aftermath: Not make each other bad. Not morally exclude. Not blame and shame."

Thank you for these words.

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Yes. Thank you. You’ve given me some grounding amidst the swirling. Very grateful for your continued showing up.

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I first read this parable in Buddhism: Plain and Simple years ago, and it keeps turning over in my head in the aftermath of this election. What a joy to see it here and know that many of us are toying with the same idea-- that this might all be an invitation into a larger awakening.

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