“Between stimulus and response lies a space. In that space lie our freedom and power to choose a response. In our response lies our growth and our happiness.“

This quote is most often attributed to Viktor Frankl, psychologist, Holocaust survivor, and author of Man’s Search for Meaning. I see it also as a central tenet of stoicism, though I’m not sure stoics would agree. Regardless, this is where I land tonight. Donald Trump has won the presidential election. I hold space for us all tonight, breathing deeply, grounding body, mind, and soul in my deepest core values, life purpose, and the Infinite Game. I know exactly what I’m here to do, and I intend to persevere with clarity and conviction. But tonight is not the time to push my own agenda on anyone.

I write this blog for a general audience, and try to be cognizant of any reader’s political leaning or other identity. Tonight, however, my thoughts are with those who wanted the other result. I see, hear, and feel the pain, fear, despondence, shock, numbness, disbelief, rage, and so much else–so much, so much. For those who are happy with the result, I hope you can also hold space for us. We are in grief. I hope we can self-regulate and not lash out and off-load. And if we do, I hope you can hold space for that too–space for empathy, compassion, grace, and shared humanity. It’s what I would want (indeed admonish) us to do if you were in our shoes.

I hold space for us to RAIN the hard feelings, as Tara Brach teaches–Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture–if we want. I can also simply sit (stand, hunch, squat) with us, hold it all with us, be with us. We don’t have to do anything else right now.

The future is uncertain, no matter how fervently we may believe we know the ending today. What is certain is that we will all have to live it together. How will we be with one another–what will be our response to this most intense stimulus? We can figure that out later; it will emerge and evolve, maybe explode, who knows. We will get there when we get there.

For now, the space. We can settle here a while, be still, breathe. Whatever you feel tonight, I validate it. Whatever you need right now, I hope you have it in spades.

I Hold Space for Us tonight. I breathe my deepest breaths, over and over, with and for us all. I hold arms outstretched, palms up and open. I hold posture upright and supple. I hold mind and heart open. I Hold Space.

Until tomorrow, friends. See you then.