Unprecedented: That word makes my eyes roll and my stomach turn

Terms come and go. Back in the 1980s, we were all talking about our paradigms and how important they were to having a life worth living.

The term is still used today, but not nearly as much.

The term unprecedented has been used in conjunction with global warming, economics, the actions of world leaders, and pretty much any seemingly unsolvable issues.

But are they really unprecedented?

History tells us “no.”

Let’s look at primarily American issues. First, let’s take immigration. What has been done over the past year to innocent, often legal residents of our country hasn’t been done en masse in recent years, but it’s not accurate to say this is unprecedented.

The Chinese people were brought here in the 19th century to build the railroads, and once the work was done, they were ostracized. Irish immigrants were told at the beginning of the 20th century not to bother applying for work, even though many came here looking for a better life. Japanese citizens were yanked from their homes during WWII, their businesses destroyed or taken over, and they were forced into internment camps.

Catholicism, or "Papism" as it was called in the 18th century, was illegal in the State of Georgia until 1777. I was in my teens when interracial marriage was legalized by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1967, but I remember growing up after the McCarthy witch hunts, as anti-Communism swept this nation until 1954. I remember my mother being questioned by a neighbor who asked if we were communists, since her son told her that I didn’t salute the flag, which I didn’t, as it violated our family's religion of having our God as the only entity worthy of our allegiance. McCarthy’s hatred for communism and socialist norms led many people to lose their jobs and, in some cases, their lives. He especially attacked homosexuals and lesbians, even though there is speculation that this was due to his internalized homophobia. We’ve seen numerous situations of conservative government representatives guilty of the same actions since those years.

There was the genocide of many of the over 500 indigenous tribes in North America by the U.S. and Canada. Those who remained were forced to live in lands they did not know, away from their homes and their ancestors.

The health of the very planet we live on is at risk, but this isn’t news. Carbon-based oil companies and related industries have long hidden what any informed person now counts as common knowledge. I could go on to talk about how many cancers are often caused by self-indulgent lifestyles of the media, and those other illnesses contributed to by the pollution that the government has allowed to continue.

And, I haven’t even scratched the surface of other ways we’ve been told that we are living in unprecedented times.

At this point, I don’t really care if we are or we aren’t. Arguing about whether my views are correct in my self-righteous indignation is fruitless.

The question is not whether we are living in unprecedented times, but what we are going to do about the world situation.

The answer to that is: nothing.

That statement is not to indicate we’ve nothing to do, or that we are helpless in the hands of governments and bureaucracies. It does, however, mean the crucial and life-supporting fact that there is one thing no one else has control over, no matter what.

Our own thoughts.

Talk to any survivor of long-term imprisonment, forced isolation, or a person who endured the Holocaust or any number of other attempts to silence an individual or group. They all kept their wits about them. They refused to believe resistance was futile. They counted on getting out of the situation they were forced into. They thought they had a choice in the future. They recognized the power within their own minds and used it to the best of their ability.

Our mobile devices and social media have made everyone else’s problems into situations we feel compelled to act on. We don’t have to live that way, unless one enjoys such a crazed lifestyle. If that’s your choice, I leave you to it.

I choose another path, one that I live and teach. Perhaps you’ll find one or two ideals that could help you get a grip on how to proceed as conditions continue to escalate. Here are a few examples of what governs my life.

• It requires me to be mindful of my surroundings and my thoughts throughout the day.

• It reminds me to be clear in my communication, to ask for what I want when I want it, without concern for whether others meet my needs. My needs are my concerns, not those of my lovers, husbands, family, or friends.

• It suggests that I live in childlike wonder at the world around me, which means I support curiosity rather than rushing to judgment about individuals or others' beliefs.

• It demands that I be compassionate with others, and urges me to exercise that same quality with my own life choices.

• It brought me to the realization of compersion, the joy and happiness I see for those I love doing things they want to do, even if I’m not the one providing that experience.

• Above all, it requires me to be responsible to myself and to help others where and how I can, but only with the approval of those persons.

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Here are some other thoughts I’ve found helpful in my life:

• Replace “I can’t” with “I don’t”

• I don’t “do” quit

• I must have emotional and physical joy in whatever I do

• Decide what matters most at the time when I must make a decision

• Simply and amply… everything

• And one from Marie Forleo: “In order to prioritize what matters most, you need to decide what matters most.”

There is no knight in shining armour, and playing the damsel in distress may look good on the front of a novel, but it lacks dignity and empowerment, don’t you agree? Be your own rescuer, your own best friend, your own source of comfort. And if you are stuck, reach out to a friend or professional. You are loved!

Could you use a counselor, therapist, mentor, or coach in your life? My training includes all these modalities. If you need someone to chat with, consider contacting me today!