One of the questions I’ve seen floating around in some of my Democratic groups recently is that people are very concerned about existing relationships that may not survive the election. “I have a MAGA brother…” “I have a MAGA uncle…” “I have a MAGA friend…” In response, some MAGA fans said: Say something like this: Is it because you hate Donald Trump? ”
We need to have serious conversations about mental health and what it sometimes means to be a friend to ourselves and an ally to others. Many people now have the ability to support Donald J. Trump because they feel as if all of his negative aspects that they don’t care about don’t affect them. It is from. Sure he’s a racist. He lies a lot. he is a criminal he gets confused. He has been bankrupt many times. He is a con artist who frequently flips when pressed on important issues. Most recently, he was on one side of the abortion issue in the Florida vote, then flipped. they don’t care. They’re not going to listen to you. They decided that the harm this could do to you or your friends’ status or life is not important enough for them to care. I mean, it’s not that I don’t like Donald Trump. I don’t hate Donald Trump. I don’t like his policies. But I don’t know Donald Trump, and there’s not much I don’t like (except sweet coleslaw, which I hate). The question is: Do we need to maintain these toxic relationships for the sake of other connections as adults? When it comes to mental health, the answer is no. I would strongly argue that as long as you do that, you are only hurting yourself and not giving them a reason to think about their choices.
we all know that. Many of us living in the Midwest have at least one family member or friend who has decided to go MAGA at some point. This is the highest number since 2016. That’s sad. It’s so incredibly cult-like that sometimes you can’t tell the difference. The economy is so bad that we can’t control prices, but we have enough money to buy a $200 Trump flag. Or a $50 Trump coin. Or Trump’s $55 Bible. The economy is so bad that gasoline is also terrible. In fact, it’s $2.55 near me, so I’m fine with it. We don’t need coronavirus. No one travels on gas, which has supply and demand costs. Because it tells me the situation is terrible and American production is in disaster mode.
You can’t argue logically with some people. And the harder you try, the greater the burden becomes. As adults, it is often difficult to make new friends. We cling to familiar circles and, as a result, find it difficult to cut off friends that have been with us forever because we have an underlying fear of not being able to make new ones.
Now is the time to think about our mental health. As we approach this election, I want to encourage us to reconsider what we want from our lives. We don’t hate Donald Trump. We can seek joy in the lives of others. A celebration they deserve.
When we keep toxic people around us, even family members, all you are doing is condoning a position that places a huge burden on us.
It’s hard to say. Look, we may have known each other all our lives, we may have been close, but I think I’m in a different place than you, and I don’t think I can do this anymore. you can’t. I understand the difficulty. No matter how old you are, creating something new can be scary. When people get married, that becomes their main family. True, we continue to keep in touch with our cousins, brothers and sisters, but not in the same way as before, because children and the immediate environment take priority.
The funny thing about this is that I learned this when I attended a Catholic CCD class when I was younger. There, as juniors and seniors, when we got married, we became a family, and there was a moment when he specifically told us if we were in trouble. The ship would sink and we could only save our parents or our spouses, and each time we were supposed to save our spouses.
Now, the same theme is about to be taken up in elections. In many states, concepts are on the ballot that put many spouses at risk. Potentially deadly hazard. The ballot contains issues and policies that put immediate family members at risk. As I have learned, they are the first people who need our protection.
There may be people here and there who mourn the lost connection, but is there any moral right or wrong in this? Do you need to constantly give voice to someone who tries to ridicule, belittle, or make fun of your beliefs just because of that connection? Is it good for mental health? No, it’s not good for your health at all.
Years ago, a very good friend of mine told me that one of the biggest issues he was working on was LGBTQ kids who were kicked out of their homes, penniless, the moment they turned 18 because of their parents’ disapproval. number of people told me. For that group, it’s about hatred of ideals or rigidity of beliefs, and cutting down those with whom they disagree. Counselors teach many in their conversations that when you cannot control your family by blood, your family will support you by love.
We continue to strive to build bridges. It’s time to stop. For our own health. Find your family. Reach out and find joy through this election. Find someone who hasn’t voted in a while but shares your values. Start a nice conversation at the door while you search for your canvas.
Your MAGA contacts may want to discuss facts they wish to fabricate. Don’t waste your breath. At this point you are done. I’m just telling everyone around me that I’m voting for Harris/Waltz because Taylor Swift told me to and she’s MAGA because she doesn’t need diapers. I point out that people can vote for any reason, and then say that I also like that she’s not big friends with Putin, but that’s just me. Then leave.
Sometimes it’s worth walking away and it’s worth it to your health. This election will be close. We need to do everything in our power to get out the vote in every state possible, and of course in battleground states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina.
It helps get voters to the polling place. If you can drive them there, that’s great. If you can make a phone call, you’ll be fine. It would be great if we could knock on some doors. It’s okay to donate a few dollars. Tell voters that they need to look at their ballot all the way through and do the same. This means you must vote on the entire ballot, including local elections. We need to change our toxic state legislature.
When it comes to toxicity in our own lives, we can change it. It’s okay to do it. Instead of posting about surviving Thanksgiving dinner at your MAGA relative’s house, start your own Thanksgiving tradition and eat dinner at your own home. Avoid mental pain.
Build your own family of love, family of joy, connections that bring hope. We’re not building an echo chamber. You are starting a new adventure that gives you hope for your life.
So before you book a flight to spend a miserable weekend with your MAGA relatives, just imagine how much better you would feel if you didn’t. There is no obligation to maintain a toxic connection. It’s perfectly fine to go for yourself.
