The Midterm Elections are almost upon us. Left, right, or center, there is much passion, animosity, and stress. Drama. Pressure. Anger. Villifying the other side and getting villified by them. Then press “Repeat.”

But is it possible to be a proactive, politically committed person without getting too worked up (more distressed than is helpful or necessary)?

Is it something even worth considering? After all, the adrenaline rush can be mighty addictive.

At the end of the day, though, is it good for you?

The key may be to remain committed to your political values and views – and respect the fact that your opponents’ values are different, even contrary.

As incredible as it may seem, those bastards believe they are “good” and “righteous” and “moral” and that we are NOT.

Just … like … we … believe … about them.

How could this be?

It’s not possible. It simply isn’t.

But then, THAT’S what they think about us.

In today’s toxic environment, respecting your opponents’ right to differ can seem unacceptable. And yet it could help keep politics from becoming deeply personal. It may help keep the conversation civil without igniting a civil war. 

If nothing else, being driven by your cause – without getting agitated about it – may make you a more effective person and citizen.
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The main thing, of course, is to vote.

This article explores internet addiction and suggests managing it in a balanced way.

Not Going Online Is the New Going Online by Andrew Harrison

Here's an interesting New York Times article on the effects of mental and physical exercise, certain anti-depressants, and social integration on cognitive health:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/25/opinion/sunday/can-you-get-smarter.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

by Dana Baduna, PhD, LMFT

This article illustrates a frame for handling “change” when encountering the unexpected. The author, a therapist, had been planning a vacation to a foreign land with the hope of disconnecting from her hectic and pressured professional lifestyle. Instead, suddenly faced with unforeseen events that disrupted her plans, she discovered how a most needed “personal self-retreat” at home became the ideal break-away. Tapping into her own resources to initiate an overdue “transformative makeover,” she gave her life a new joie de vivre.

The trip to Argentina, intended to expand my cultural horizons as well as get me rested, never happened. Instead, my vacation became an inner trip of discovery and a physical, mental, and spiritual retreat from my busy lifestyle.

I had been prepared to travel to Buenos Aires with my boyfriend, my first trip to South America. I had eagerly looked forward to exploring this famous city, tasting its food, meeting its people, and getting lost in its renowned Euro-American culture. Just as exciting was the idea of taking two weeks off from work. Almost eight years had gone by since I had last been able to slice off this much time from my schedule, and the emotional toll of “lots of work and little play” had begun catching up to me.