“When someone shows you who they are believe them; the first time.”  –Maya Angelou

Sometime around 3 a.m. this morning, while witnessing the stunningly improbable, equally impressive, election victory of Donald Trump as president elect of the United States of America, I thought of an old favorite fable, The Scorpion & The Bird.  

As the tale tells, a scorpion and a bird sat on the side of a river. The scorpion wanted to cross the river, but being a terrible swimmer, he decided to ask the bird to carry him across the river on its back to the other side.

To which the bird responded, “Why would I do that? You’re a scorpion and you will sting me, then I will fall into the river and drown.”

The scorpion scoffs at the bird’s response. “If you fall into the river and drown, then I will fall and drown too. Where’s the logic in that?”

“I suppose you’re right,” reasons the bird. “Okay, I will carry you across the river. Jump on my back!”

The scorpion jumps on the back of the bird and the bird takes flight.

Halfway across the river the scorpion stings the bird. The bird becomes dazed and falls toward the water.

“Why did you sting me?” cries the bird, turning his head to look at the scorpion.

“You knew what I was before you let me on you back,” responds the scorpion. “It’s my nature and character, I cannot help what I do.”

The moral of the story is simple – there are certain things in life, be they animals, situations, people, nations, etc., that simply are what they are. Regardless of logic, their innate nature will ultimately rise to reveal a true character, even when that character may be dangerous, devolving, or detrimental toward self.

In 2016, the fact that America has democratically (by electoral college standards, not the popular vote) chosen to elect a misogynistic, bigoted bully to its highest office of leadership, is a clear result of whitelash against its changing racial, ethnic, and religious demographic.

Should that be surprising? Not really. The outcome of this election is simply an expression of America’s true core nature, which it is struggling to hang onto. The underlying message should resound loud and clear to all those who thought she was anything different.

Why would anyone be surprised? Disappointed? Perhaps. But not surprised. I’m pretty sure the founding fathers of the nation would be proud the nation they envisioned will remain true to its nature for just a little while longer.

For just a little while longer, because equally as loud and clear is the message that greater efforts, works, and successes, must be accomplished in evolving America toward becoming a more equal, just, and prosperous place for all. Eventually every pendulum swings – it’s just a matter of when, how far, and how fast.

I’ve been a resident of the United States for more than two decades now, but retain Canadian citizenship. This morning, for the first time in a long time, I looked at my Canadian passport, and for a moment it felt like a golden ticket. Then I quietly placed the passport back in its safety spot with a smile.

I’m going nowhere fast, except out the door to continue my everyday work and mission to help better my community, teach wellness and self-empowerment, and help others grow mindsets and ideologies that, with the help of Creator, may help them become more self-sufficient and able to pay that learned knowledge and sense of self-empowerment forward.

Fear of a Trump presidency is the furthest thing from my mind. Rather than feeling scared, or scarred, I feel motivated to work harder toward creating an American ideal that all Americans, and the rest of the world, may truly be proud of. We’ve witnessed America’s oppressed, underestimated, and downtrodden surviving much worse and become stronger, more resilient, and more resourceful for the process.

Every individual on the opposite side of this turn in history, myself included, should feel driven to accomplish more, organize greater, grow stronger, and continue major efforts to turn the tide of old America into a greater, better, more inclusive and visionary ideal for a growing majority population.

Just as the innate nature of America is currently clutching to hold onto the old-minded tenants of its founding character, the process of evolution is inevitable. Eventually the pendulum will swing to the point where returning to its original nature will become impossible. What that may truly look like, what it will take to accomplish, and how it will be accomplished, no one can truly know. Most likely it will be a messy, ugly, and hard fought path.

So, despite today’s disappointment, disbelief, or anger, or on the other side of the equation, elation and celebration, when the smoke clears from this election our minds must also be clear. At the end of the day, each and every one is responsible for determining his or her own destiny in life. Hopefully part of that destiny involves making the world a better place. That is a winning mindset to pursue.

There is power in vision & vision in power; together they have ability to impart massive social change for the better while allowing personal joy to exist.

Choose to make clear your vision, and work daily to claim your power, regardless who America’s next president may be. Don’t be scared. Be powerful.

Thank you for reading…wishing wellness and empowerment your way,

Dr. J