The mystics argued again and again that for all of us humans, there is only one direction. For all of our divisions and arguments and labels and judgments we are all headed to the same place: we are going to die.

“We are just small stones and little flowers searching for our sun. What you have seen under words, behind many eyes, and beneath all cries is the one direction,” one prophet told his apprentice.

The one direction is life-death, of course,  even the left and the right can’t argue about it.

The idea is not meant to depress, but to provide perspective. Our arguments and differences do not matter much when we think about it. In the scheme of things, we are not here for very long, and I don’t care to spend my time hating people.

I find it is possible to do a lot of good that way. And that is my purpose now.

When I think of this idea of one direction, it does not upset or frightens me. It calms me and grounds me. The differences we create and argue about are insignificant when put up against the great truth.

We will all end. We are all one.

None of our arguments can alter that; we are united in ways most of us forget. This week, I am thinking about it.

Yesterday I wrote about my blog being a politics-free zone, even before I knew about Iowa and then the State Of The Union speech. Politics are important, politics matter, but to me, they dwarf in comparison to the human experience we all share. and the direction we are all going to experience.

I have never written much about politics here; it’s not what my life or the blog is about. And I wanted to assure people on all sides of the spectrum that when they come here, it will be different from CNN and Fox News or Facebook and Twitter. It is my goal to remove myself from both.

Many of the people on Facebook only read headlines anyway.

I am no ostrich, I know what is happening in the world. But I won’t turn my life or peace of mind over to it, no politician or ideology is that important to me.

My news here on the blog is different. Here is the story of a real-life, unabridged, good and bad. Of people and their relationship with animals. Of life and meaning.

I think of myself as a cultural soap opera sometimes, a new way of writing a memoir. A true memoir, I believe, must reflect a whole life, not just a slice. I can’t present myself in any way but the truth, as unpleasant as that sometimes is.

People are always trying to tell me what to write and how to be, some don’t grasp that the point is the search, not the solution.

We are mostly all looking for the same thing, a life of love and fulfillment and meaning. The left and the right to not offer this to me.

In recent years, the blog has evolved in a safe place that gives comfort and stability to people. I didn’t plan it that way; it just happened.

I’ve taken up two practices – meditation and Radical Acceptance. Both have been an enormous help to me as I, like you, navigates upsetting and divisive times. Meditation is simply calming, and Radical Acceptance liberating.

One of the many books that has helped me is The Book Of Awakening, by Mark Nepo, written 20 years ago but still selling and more relevant than ever.

His basic idea is that to have the life you want; you must be present in the life you already have.

Every day of the year, he offers short and grounding meditation practices.

I like this one, even though it’s meant for March 1: I remember it from last year and earmarked it.

-Meditate on one recent moment of lightheartedness you have felt. Breathe deeply and smile.

-Now meditate on one recent moment of lightheartedness you witnessed in a loved one or friend. Breathe deeply and smile.

-Continue your deep breathing and let these two moments find their sameness.

-Focus on this lightness of heart as you would a sun out of view, and feel the one direction.

This practice – which I will teach at the Mansion this week – guides me to the brighter side of life, and also uses my breathing to settle.

It connects me to other people and away from the avalanche of angry and disturbing news from the outside, and from my own brokenness and fear.

I think I have to work some every day to keep from succumbing to anger and fear or permitting it to infect me. It’s easy enough to say I won’t succumb to argument and anger, but in order for that to be true, I have to do something, not just wish for something.

The Mansion helps me, so does Bishop Maginn High School. So does my life, Maria, the dogs, my photography. Each one of these things takes me in the one direction.

This practice has worked for me, and I hope to share it with you from time to time.

Photo of Fanny by Maria Wulf