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At a time when half our nation is in pain, who am I to stand by silently and not at least try to help?

The subject, of course, is Donald Trump and his capacity activate people into — borrowing from the anything-but-woke crew of Star Trek’s U.S.S. Enterprise — “Boldly go where no man has gone before.”

The number of folks who have been triggered into misery; thrown into perpetual mourning; and transformed into angry trolls, is phenomenal.

Those most vulnerable to TDS include the perpetually fearful; Baby Boomers – like me — who are stricken to learn that they are actually going to age out and die; the propagandized not-so-smart and naïve; elephant-affiliated politicians accustomed to having their way; and those who are dependent on government largesse to keep their ship afloat.

If you fall into one of these categories – especially the “winter of life” baby boomer group – let me first extend my sincerest sympathies.

Having thus firmly affirmed my compassion credentials, I’d now like to offer a helping hand toward recovery. 

One of the more crucial elements to personal well-being is safety.

Without a sense of physical, emotional, social and financial safety, everything else falls under a cloud. 

Our new president is about many things, but making people feel safe is not one of them. 

For those with an opposing view, his leadership style, purposeful bombast, self-absorption and erratic approach are fertilizers for fear, worry and anger.

In WNC’s central city, voters came out from Kamala Harris with a two-to-one ratio over Donald Trump. Now we know why we have a city council that could serve as a Gavin Newsome wildfire management advisory committee.

Few national elections have had presidential candidates with a wider gap in principles, priorities, promises and plans for our future than the most recent one. The outcome means our region has a lot of politically disappointed people.

For most, their initial reaction has likely evolved into quiet though hemorrhoidally uncomfortable acceptance. For others, the sense of risk, apprehension, frustration, resentment and, possibly, weed dependence, have grown exponentially.  

Habituated entitlement groups – think BLM, the “spread out all over the rainbow” coalition, and the pro illegal immigration Chamber of Commerce folks; those who depend on the least dependable thing in the world – government; and those who think good leaders are those who tell us what we want to hear, the intentional chaos that has characterized the new Trump regime has set their hair on fire. 

Are there answers to those thus impacted? Sure, but it’s going to cost you.

Post-election recovery for the alarmed begins with anger management.

Though it’s a great temporary antidote to fear, worry, hurt and other vulnerable emotions, anger is also addictive and toxic to the container that holds it. It’s rarely possible to produce personal or social peace through a life model fueled by anger.

How does that translate into action? The only real antidote to anger is forgiveness. You guys are going to have to forgive Donald Trump for being Donald Trump.

Of equal motivating importance is the reality that anger bonds you to whoever you’re angry toward. Fused to the guy with orange hair is not a visual that most anti-Trump enthusiasts should cherish.

We live on a troubled planet. It always has been, and from my personal view, always will be.

Treating the relentless absurdities seriously versus responsibly robs us of balance, hope, self-control, and peace of mind.

Taking things and ourselves too seriously also molds us into reactive robots.

If you don’t believe it, watch MSNBC, PBS (while you can), CNN, and the hosts on “The View.”

In contrast, treating challenges with responsibility and grace liberates us from our torment and sets the stage for positive action.

From the viewpoint of someone who three times voted for Donald Trump and did not vote for Mr. Autopen or Barack “The Great Divider” Obama, when it comes to politics, we’re all faced with a similar dilemma. There’s a choice of focusing on what we can control or what we can’t.

The more we do the former, the more powerless, fearful, and negative we’re guaranteed to become. Experience tells us this vicious cycle can set the brain on fire.

The more we embrace the things over which we do have direct influence, the more quickly we will realize – no matter who’s in charge – that we remain able to chart the course of most of the things necessary to a life well lived.

Let me boil it all down for TDS suffers. 

Wasting time on fear, worry and anger over the most recent presidential election is the equivalent of taking a selfie with you and Donald and posting that image in your head.