Olive Garden and Holiday Inn

I write this log today with some melancholy but also balance as we look back at this week of drama, hurt, anger and tension. Whatever your view is politically or otherwise, it was a tough week for all of us and a week of many lessons learned.

As you might read this log, the news may be packed with new happenings, drama, revenge and further division in our country and among all of us. The operative word being Division - a sense of two realities and two truths with each side feeling victimized and each side feeling holier than thou. As my brother, Anand always tells me: Truth knows itself and it knows what is true, regardless of how we interpret or consider what is true or correct or the better way.

A CNN Anchor mocked the folks at the rally on January 6th (not the rioters and violent minority). The anchor broadcasted that most of the regular folks attending the rally would most likely grab dinner at The Olive Garden and then return to their hotel, The Holiday Inn, grab a few drinks and hi-five each other on how the day went. And I paraphrase.

The aversion and mockery was evident in the anchor’s voice and demeanor as he looked down upon good ordinary folks who he did not agree with politically or any other way.

I regularly eat at The Olive Garden and have spent 100s of nights at Holiday Inns or similar. There ain’t nothing wrong with either. Not all of us have the budget, the income or knowledge of expensive dining and maybe for a regular joe like me, the Olive Garden lasagna rocks and the clean sheets of a clean Holiday Inn does the job.

So, aversion and the resulting division broadcasted by this CNN anchor is not doing any good for anyone and primarily for the anchor themself.

Division influences most of what we do in this dualistic world, be it class, religion, economic status or values. The Us vs. Them attitude is so archaic as we know: What goes around will come around, just like the seasons, just like day and night as we all rotate and revolve together on this little planet.

If the winning party truly believes that their way is better and that they are the pious ones, it would be so refreshing for them to act with an intention of Integration vs. Division. We could all use a little integration in our politics, our society and within our own selves.

If the coasts truly believe that they know better and that they are more evolved than those of us who enjoy eating at The Olive Garden or staying at The Holiday Inn, then how about reaching out to those in the middle? How about realizing that anything and everything that they enjoy comes largely from our American Heartland, our farms, our ranches, our factories and so much more.

A truly integrated America will only happen if we all look within ourselves and identify the root cause of our notion of division. And the greatest driver of integration is “Context” in all we do. Being mindful is the art of focus with full awareness. Focus and Full Awareness = Integration.

We as a country lack focus and full awareness and thus context. Be mindful America and let’s all enjoy that lasagna and a good night of sleep.

Be Mindful.