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I remember one time I was on Mapleton Hill in Boulder, Colorado, at a big rummage sale, I think.

It must have been June or July.

Three folks, at least one or two wearing the infamous red MAGA hats, walked up to me. I immediately sort of…withdrew into my heart. But luckily I have meditation training, and I breathed into that tightness. They were smiling, and wanted to say that they recognized me and that they loved my first book, Things I would like to do with You.

That was a surprise. They were kind, smiling, present.

I share this not because it’s a vanity-boosting story, but because I had a (not great) idea about them, and then they turned out to be soft and open and friendly.

While I still take great exception with MAGA…supporting an awful human being who is awful to others, who lies, who cons, who hurts others and our planet…it’s a reminder. We can open, and open, and open—but also be grounded and discerning and stand in our ethics. We can have conversations. We can engage, instead of hiding. And we can engage mindfully, instead of getting addicted to commenting online or reading social media.

There’s a middle way: care about others, care about self. Care about others, care about self.

And then we practice remaining open, through meditation. A few minutes in the morning and evening is enough. Dedicate the merit.

We’ll need to know how to take care of ourselves without isolating or shutting down over the next hard years.