Year: 2025

How to Thrive in 2025 with Political Plaid

/ mmtichenor / Leave a comment

It’s time to focus and create a plan to stop the destruction of our beloved country. There is perfect clarity on what we need to do to save our way of life. Democracy is on the line so we must find the way and be diligent in our efforts to turn the tide. How will we do this? I have a clear and doable plan on what our part will be in the success of reclaiming integrity, dignity and effectiveness. My posts will increase dramatically, and become much shorter, as I support you to find your path and move forward. Here is how it begins.

Whether you are an optimist, pessimist or “realist”, we must set all that aside and only look at what actions we can take. If you believe nothing can change – a pessimist or realist – you will become frozen and unable to be part of the solution. If you are a pollyanna optimist, you will hide your head in the sand also impeding our ability to effect change. So –

  1. First we must ground ourselves every day. In the morning, do not, I repeat, do not get into the news media. Spend some time greeting the day, find three things you are grateful for, enjoy your tea, coffee, breakfast, pets and other friendly humans you may come across. Start into the days activities with pleasure. What is on your ‘Get To’ list? Breathe. Breathe. Breath.
  2. Consider who you know that is close to the progressive agenda. There are 100 million people or more who agree with dignity, integrity and social justice and who are certainly against tyranny. There are people around you, even if in a “red” state (no such thing by the way), that voted Democrat or didn’t vote at all but are horrified at the recent turn of events. Make a plan to reach out to them to start a Political Plaid group. Get several copies of the book if you can so that each person can work through the book together. You can meet in person or via the airwaves. Your objective is to just support one another as you create a plan for how to make a difference in your community and country.
  3. As mentioned at the top, do not get into the news feed all day long. Select a time around midday to check in on NPR, PBS, ProPublica, AP News, Reuters or other trusted source. Try to find one that is less sensationalist and not part of the oligarchy. Know what is going on but don’t live there. Let this information direct your responses to what’s happening but not pierce into your soul and live there. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.
  4. With your Political Plaid group members, look into your local politics. When is the next election? What are the issues? When is the next School Board meeting? Town or County meeting? Where is the local Democrat office? What local groups might you join? League of Women Voters, Indivisible, MoveOn, environmental groups, social justice groups, civil rights groups or support groups. Maybe each person in your group picks a different place to join and you talk with each other about your experiences.
  5. Midday also make phone calls to your state and federal Representatives and Senators. With support and sympathy let them know your demands for stopping the coup. They are incredibly brave right now to go against this seemingly unstoppable force. But when we all come together, we are stronger. If your leaders are red, still let them know you do not agree with their actions. This does make a difference in the long run.
  6. In the afternoon, back off of the news and refocus on your here and now. Notice the nature around you even if just a few trees on a city block. Listen for the sounds of birds and laughter. Delve into your work feeling productive and accomplished. Talk to a friend about anything but politics. Remember to eat well, walk about and get to bed early enough for a good night’s sleep. Start a gratitude journal and write three things every morning and evening you are delighted are in your life. Listen to uplifting music. Look at beautiful art. Make art. Pet a friendly animal. Do yoga, QiGong, Salsa dancing and Disco. Do what you love. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.

I know this is all very overwhelming right now and these actions may seem a drop in the bucket. BUT, the change we need can only happen if we come together, TALK to one another and take action. Each following post will break the above down into smaller bites and easy to dos. We’ll also flush out each idea and get creative with our answers to the problems we face. I will look forward to your comments and suggestions. Use the Contact page on the website to get in touch with me. Thank you for your participation.

I will support you every step of the way. You can do this. I am here to guide you through. We’ve got each other. Let us rise.

January 20, 2025

/ mmtichenor / 1 Comment

Today clearly defines the crossroads Americans face as we decide what avenue to travel, one that will either take apart our democracy, or save our democracy or devolve back to a monarchy. Millions of Americans believe we are about to be saved. Millions more believe we are about to be destroyed. Millions of others can’t or won’t pay attention but are still worried our democratic foundations have already or are about to be thwarted, many feel powerless and hopeless. Today we get a new administration in conflict with the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr celebrated today and former President Jimmy Carter who should have been honored with flags flown at half mast. It could not be a clearer distinction of values and democratic traditions between these two groups.

If we want to keep the legacies of great leaders such as MLK and Carter, we need to change our lens from the focus on labels such as Republican, Democrat, Liberal or Conservative to defining issues, seeking solutions that match our values guided by the historic way-finders that have gone before us. Martin Luther King, Jr was a beacon in the dark serving to bring to our awareness the cruelty and corruption in American society. King led peaceful protests against violent oppression that shocked the country. Because the main networks broadcast the cruelty and abuse against people of color, Americans became outraged and demanded change. And we got it. We need to do this again since we have now discovered our gains were superficial in some ways even if significant in others.

Today the American flag should have continued flying at half staff to honor former President Jimmy Carter but vanity negated this long held tradition. The continued degradation of honor, ethics, values and dignity are vanishing before our eyes and will be accelerated at a fast pace beginning today. Already at whitehouse. gov, the page describing Jimmy Carter’s presidency is no longer found, neither is any other president including George Washington, just the current president. They had this keyed up immediately. There will be mountains of such actions, but we must not let this dismay us. We must keep our focus on what we can do, not what they do. Awareness yes, panic no.

Consider Carter who was a man before his time. He led a historic peace agreement between Egypt and Israel with long lasting results in a tumultuous area of the world. In 1977, Carter created the Department of Energy to address energy issues, conservation, promote research into alternative energy and expanded National Parks and wildlife refuges. Always following ethical ideals and values led to the Panama Canal Treaties, normalizing relations with China and focusing on human rights in US foreign policy. Most important were civil and political rights at home and around the world. Understanding the importance of education for a functioning democracy and quality of life, Carter created the Department of Education to improve education no matter where in the country you attended school.

After his presidency, The Carter Center was created to support democracy and human rights goals around the world. One of its most impressive achievements was the eradication of the Guinea worm disease solely through education passed from neighbor to neighbor. The realization of these goals led to the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Carter, clearly ahead of his time regarding the climate crisis, peaceful diplomacy, support of worldwide democracy and human rights, met with resistance and criticism. That is the way of democracy, debate, trial, error, try again and incremental success.

This way of running a democracy seems to have died over the last forty plus years as powerful money interests have had their “alternate facts” become truths in the minds of many. It is up to us who revere MLK and Carter for their courage and foresight to maintain our democracy as best we can. As we move forward, look to Political Plaid to offer ideas on how we might pass from neighbor to neighbor the paths to healing and preserving our democratic tenets.

Hold on to hope. Send supportive emails to your Congresspeople as they will need encouragement as they wade through the actions of the new administration. Talk regularly with your local Representatives about what you want to see in your schools and communities. Converse with trusted friends and family about our American way of life you want to see preserved. We can do this. One day at a time.