We humans are all subject to being “blow about” by the Eight Worldly Winds:

Gain and Loss

Pleasure and Pain

Praise and Blame

Status and Disgrace

The only thing I know for sure these days,

is that cultivating even a little stability and equanimity in myself

is essential if I hope to find a place a rest in the middle of the storms.

Then maybe, with the help of others,

I will be able to discern what is skillful

and do the hard work of taking respectful action.

~Frank Ostaseski

how will I show up now….and now?

inquiry for today~ listen to the discomfort and reach out…

be in the swell…

Pity the nation that acclaims the bully as hero,

and that deems the glittering conqueror bountiful.

Pity a nation that despises a passion in its dream,

yet submits in its awakening.

Pity the nation that raises not its voice

save when it walks in a funeral,

boasts not except among its ruins,

and will rebel not save when its neck is laid

between the sword and the block.

Pity the nation whose statesman is a fox,

whose philosopher is a juggler,

and whose art is the art of patching and mimicking

Pity the nation that welcomes its new ruler with trumpeting,

and farewells him with hooting,

only to welcome another with trumpeting again.

Pity the nation whose sages are dumb with years

and whose strongmen are yet in the cradle.

Pity the nation divided into fragments,

each fragment deeming itself a nation.

~Kahlil Gibran