Dear President Trump, I think you’d probably count me among ‘the haters’ that you so generously wished a Happy New Year this morning, so thank you (I guess) – it’s a smidge better than telling us to ‘eat shit and die,’ which really was the very clear subtext. Last year I told you that I … Continue reading Happy New Year
Kindness
You could have visited after all
Dear President Trump, There wasn’t a peep about it this morning, but I’m sure the news outlets will tell us later whether you decided to stick it out in Washington DC in a pouty austerity move or went on to Mar-a-Lago so as not to disappoint the patrons who are paying dearly for a few … Continue reading You could have visited after all
Connection and care
Dear President Trump, Last night our minister’s Christmas Eve meditation was entitled “Discomfort and Joy.” I wish you could have heard it; it was really beautiful and the message is one I think many of us desperately need to hear and abide. The main point is that having to contend with discomfort makes space for … Continue reading Connection and care
“Plogging” and “Plokking”
Dear President Trump, I just learned that there’s a new (since 2016) Swedish word ~ “plogging” ~ that refers to picking up litter while jogging. It’s a pretty exciting find for a couple of reasons starting with the “hey, that’s what I’ve been doing!” reaction, which signaled feeling some connection and validation for what has … Continue reading “Plogging” and “Plokking”
Standing in the gap (3)
Dear President Trump, Both the caring letters suicide intervention and the program to curb cycles of violence for young black men profiled in the HP remind me of something Mother Teresa’s said: “The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis but rather the feeling of not belonging.” There are probably just about as many … Continue reading Standing in the gap (3)
Standing in the gap (2)
Dear President Trump, The second HP piece in what I’m calling their “standing in the gap” series, is about a program developed by Dr. Joseph Richardson Jr., at the University of Maryland. It’s designed for young black men who’ve been hospitalized two or more times because of gunshot or stabbing wounds. The idea is to … Continue reading Standing in the gap (2)
Standing in the gap (1)
Dear President Trump, In the last two weeks or so the HP has published several long pieces that all focus on different rips in collective care taking and ways that people are trying to stand in these gaps. The one I’m going to focus on today is about an old way of addressing suicidality that’s … Continue reading Standing in the gap (1)
No matter what, there’ll still be trash to pick-up
Dear President Trump, I woke up with my jaw especially sore this morning from grinding my teeth extra hard all night. I was able to sleep, though, and I think having read in the HP about Michelle Obama’s reprise and elaboration of her encouragement to stay the course with integrity and to safeguard our dignity … Continue reading No matter what, there’ll still be trash to pick-up
Crying sort of day
Dear President Trump, The first time I cried yesterday was when I was perusing the new Sunset magazine celebrating their 120th anniversary. On the sides of most the pages are little pictures and snippets of significant Western events over the years. I was doing fine until I got to the picture of a four- or … Continue reading Crying sort of day
“Love moves the world towards love”
Dear President Trump, I think I’ve told you before that at the beginning of my now 466 page document holding all my letters to you there are a couple of pages of random quotes and ideas that I’ve collected for possible incorporation into some-day letters. I usually just scroll past these bits to the beginning … Continue reading “Love moves the world towards love”
Daily Trump Letters 