Finding Common Ground for a Healthier Life
I was feeling really unsure about going, but I'm so glad I did. As I write this, I am coming back from a few days in Tampa, Florida (sorry, that's why I'm a little late getting this email out!) for a FASTer Way Coach Conference. As the date of departure approached, I felt anxious wondering if it was a good idea to travel so soon after the recent US election.
Even as a Canadian, I have been watching what's been said and done across the border these last few months, and have some strong feelings about it. I know that many other people have strong feelings about the opposing side. So I didn't know what it was going to be like in the United States the day after the election results were announced. Would it be safe? How would it feel to be around others who seem to have very different beliefs than I do? Lots of big feelings.
I am so glad that my husband and I still decided to go because I am heading home from this trip feeling better about the state of our world. It's normal to have emotions of all kinds, but sitting in a space of anger and fear and division for too long is not a healthy place for us to be. Since I know many of you are also feeling lots of emotions right now, I thought it might be helpful to share what is helping me to move towards feeling more hopeful.
Both at the Naturopathic Conference I was at last weekend and at the FASTer Way Coach Conference this past week (it's been a busy week!), the topic of community and belongingness as a major predictor of health came up. Conversely, loneliness and separation is one of the biggest detractors from longevity. For the good of our own health, we need to focus on how we are connected and similar versus letting our differences dominate.
I have been part of the FASTer Way community for over 6 years and have been to several conferences and events over that time, so I have had the privilege of connecting with many other coaches… all of whom have the common mission of helping other people get healthier. As I talked to some of them over the last few days, it was sometimes apparent that their political views are different than mine, even though we didn't get into any big political debates. Just because we don't agree with some of the views someone holds doesn't mean that we don't still have some areas of common ground, and that they aren't still good people. Some of the people I talked to said they didn't really like either option, and chose to vote based on certain pieces of the election platform that they felt would be beneficial for them, their family or their community, even if they didn't agree with all parts of it. I liked these people before the election and I still like them now - who they voted for doesn't make them a different person.
The theme of the FASTer Way Summit was “unity”. Our CEO, Amanda Tress, said that this fall has been a tough one in Florida, with the hurricanes and the election being very stressful events. When the hurricanes caused so much damage though, it didn't matter what political, religious or other differences people had. Everyone was out there doing what they could to help each other out. That common purpose brought people together and showed who we all are at our essential core.
Negativity is contagious, but so is positivity. We get to choose what we focus on. When we unite and focus on our similarities, rather than judging our differences, that's where positive change can happen in our communities and the bigger world.
I know this is a bit of step away from my usual newsletter topics, but I decided to share my perspective with you after this trip in case you too are feeling the weight of the last week. We can't always choose what happens to us and the world, but we can determine how we react to it. How do you want to show up for yourself and the people you love?