The 2024 presidential election motivated me to have a birthday do-over

At the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater Pointe in Time Emerald Gala Today marks a week since my birthday.  Its occurrence is a tremendous blessing. Because all around us are reminders about the fragility of life. To that end, my brother, who always makes a point to celebrate me, took me to the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater's Pointe in Time Emerald Gala on November 2d. That was the beginning of my birthday celebrations. And then, on my birthday itself, I got a bit of a surprise... My actual birthday was tough. It was Election Day. And, I spent the day working polls as a part of an election protection effort. My efforts were designed to protect all voters. However, deep in my heart I love my AKA sister, Kamala Harris and I hoped for her historic victory. Then, much to my chagrin and despite my efforts—and those of thousands more—she lost. In my estimation, that loss was one of the greatest setbacks in human dignity in my lifetime.  The country elected a felon and self-proclaimed, racist, ableis

The function of fiction...

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As I was running today I thought about the importance of the lies that we tell ourselves. “He doesn’t have a girlfriend.” “I haven’t gained 15 pounds since college.” "He's not cheating on me." “He loves me.” “This haircut looks great on me.” 

The book He's Just Not That Into You has made it harder to believe these lies. Still, they do serve a purpose.


These lies help us to make it through. They help us cope. They help us function. They help us live. They help us maintain a healthy outlook until we can deal with the truth.

I’m not talking about those who are so out of touch that they live in a fantasy world. Rather, I am talking about those regular folks who have so much going on in our lives that dealing with it all at once might break us.

The more that I thought about it the more I concluded that denial gets a bad break. Upon reflection, I don’t call it dysfunction at all. I call it balance…
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