It was bitterly cold last night, and many of the people I know are freaking out over the election.  I found myself in the backyard with a Barn Cat in my lap.

In recent days and weeks, I’ve chosen to keep my mouth shut about the election. We are swimming in pundits who seem to know little; I’m not joining that club. I got anxious yesterday and worried about my country, as almost everyone does. I went outside to sit in the sun (glare in my eyes), and Zip joined me. He loves getting his chin scratched more than anything. He needs calming, just like I do.

All I have to say about the election is that I feel okay about it. We are going to a better and less grinding place. I feel it in my bones. I’m not saying it will be easy or perfect, but it will be better. I sense better things ahead. I believe there is a Compassion Revolution Underway; the Cambridge Food Pantry is my evidence.

Zip seems to feel it when I am edgy; he’s always there, waiting to get his chin scratched (photo by Maria, of course.) I hope this blog is a safe place for people to come and rest the rawness of the world beyond. I love it here for many reasons, and this is one of them: sitting outside, watching the sky, the animals, the pasture, the light, and zipping along always.

Cats are witches, I think; I never know where they are, but they always know where I am.

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“Deep listening and loving speech are wonderful instruments to help us arrive at the understanding we all need as a basis for appropriate action. You listen deeply for only one purpose – to allow the other person to empty his or her heart. This is already an act of relieving suffering.”– Thich  Nhat Hanh