A number of you have posted feeling oddly not ecstatic or joyful, even while being very grateful for the great victory in the elections.

I believe it’s worth remembering that many or even most or all of us - especially those who have been awake for a long time have carried some pretty heavy burdens - e.g., there is a weight to simply living in a world where what we know is not acknowledged publicly - a surreal dichotomy between truth and reality vs a daunting edifice of lies.

Those blessed with good and faithful frens can cope pretty well, but many of us, apart from this forum, may be trying to get by pretty much on our own, and that doesn’t work so well.

Add to that, loss of loved ones, perhaps due to the jabs, dealing with inflation and perhaps loss of employment, worry for our country and future prospects, and these burdens inevitably weigh heavily on each of us, even or especially if only in our subconscious levels.

What I’d like to do is list a few tools or weapons which others have found helpful in dealing with stress:

1. Acknowledge we all need some healing.
2. Get right with God.
3. Get more sleep.
4. Get outside in the sunlight each day.
5. Find ways to be kind to yourself and to others, including strangers.
6. Forgive yourself and any others who need it.
7. Replace bad habits with good ones.
8. Humor, and even just a smile can work wonders.
9. Find someone to share what’s on your mind.
10. Do something good for yourself each day (walk, hobby, good book, recreation.