MORNINGS

 I start my mornings the same way every day: play the NY games, make myself a latte, and take some deep breaths. A friend suggested I try the app Balance, which provides a deep soothing meditation that is a great way to begin the day. Then I read what Heather Cox Richardson has written because she is so thoughtful and brilliant and even handed in her remarks which provide some protection in the face of political rhetoric that I know is wrong. And then, sometimes, FaceBook breaks into my sense of calm with a jab.

Here's one. When someone says to you, "But these immigrants are illegal!" as if the horrors inflicted upon them by ICE is appropriate. Or that the protesters should be arrested, pulled out of their cars, beaten within an inch of their lives and sometimes murdered by ICE who look and behave exactly like brown shirts in Nazi Germany in the 1930's, here's your answer.

"You voted for a convicted felon who breaks the law every day!" 

Immigrants, like my grandparents, are mostly decent people trying to make a better life for themselves and their families. This president equates crossing a border to murder. Three more years is three too many. The political whirlwind of vicious lies keeps me on edge.

Then there are transgender people who make up less than one percent of the population and the blown up 'political concern' that if they have full rights, we'll end up with group toilets and showers and unfair sports competition. Really? Does anyone really believe that transgender people don't care about their own privacy? But what about sports? Isn't this creating unfair competition. Nope. Not true at all. 

"Trans athletes, especially trans women and girls, have come under fire over the last few years, but trans women have been openly playing in women's sports for decades. Trans women continue to be massively underrepresented in high school, college and professional sports. Moreover, those who do compete aren't usually dominating in the fields. A study published in the Journal Sports Medicine has found that there is no scientific evidence to support policymakers' attempts to ban transgender women in sports.
" Trans Women in Sports  

Time to lie down and listen to another meditation on my Balance app.