It is a fearsome thing when the full weight of media and new information technology all bear down at once on a single event, like the debate tomorrow between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. It reminds me of the powerful beam emitted by the Death Star in Star Wars, too much heat and light, too little wisdom and perspective.

Too many people I know are frightened and confused, or angry and defensive.

I came up with my own primer, for me, here on our farm, a way for me to remain grounded, keep some perspective and avoid the hysteria and fear and anger swirling around in the very air.

First, I will not join any angry mobs. I will not hate people who have different values from me, and who disagree with me, no matter what they say and do.

Secondly, the Republic will be standing on November 9. Our system is malleable and accommodating in many ways.

I check the new once a day.

I herd sheep twice a day.

I visit with donkeys once or twice a day, they have an amazing perspective on the many foibles and inadequacies of humans observed over thousands of years.

I never argue my beliefs on Facebook, read other people’s arguments on Facebook or Twitter, or spend more than a few minutes on either.

I ignore anyone who tells me they are moving to Canada, Europe or Costa Rica if their candidates loses. We don’t really need them here.

I will try and listen to what I dislike and comprehend it rather than simply wring my hands about it.

I will spend a quiet hour with myself or the people or animals I love today and tomorrow. They are what my life is really about.

I will accept that the country I love very much is in the midst of turbulent and sometimes disturbing change, I will look for the small acts of kindness and community that remind all of us of what it really means to be human. As a survivor of turbulent and sometimes disturbing change, I understand that part of being creative is learning to empathize and understand, not simply condemn.

My own beliefs and preferences are fairly obvious in this contest, I don’t need to shout them on my lawn or blog or anywhere else. I don’t much care if people agree with me or not, and I consider their own values their own business.

I have faith in myself and my own judgements, I can’t say they are right, but they are mine, and that grounds me and helps me keep perspective.

I will remember that democracy is not a perfect system, but the best system anyone has come up with so far. I trust it. Democracy can’t work if we only accept what reflect us, it has to do more than that.

So those are my ideas for moving through this radioactive cloud in a rational way, and for keeping a sense of perspective, essential to a rational or spiritual life. I am not telling anyone else what to do, but I hope it is helpful in some ways.

Today will finish putting up our gutters and then head off to the Adirondack Fiber Festival. We intend to have a peaceful and productive day, today and tomorrow.