November 6, 2024
Renton, Washington Hampton Inn 6:25 AM Pacific Time

We’ve been traveling for a week now with the 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree and it’s the morning after the presidential election of 2024. Last night, in the hours before bedtime, I was dangerously focused on the outcome and seemed to pay very little attention to what would happen next – today and the days that followed.

The election results showed a virtual tie in which we could wake up to either of two very likely outcomes. And this morning, with the results now clear, I dedicate my practice to fulfilling my best intentions. Rather than focusing on who won or lost, I am now directing my thoughts to all that will come of me and this world in which I live – a place I truly love.

Like many modern Americans, I typically wake up each morning with an unspecified sense of anxiety. I allow myself to reinforce that state of being by doom scrolling through a flood of social media posts as well as reports from National Public Radio.

These bursts of information so early in the morning – that may or may not have a direct and specific influence on my life – only increase and intensify those feelings of dread and worry. Today, on this morning in particular, I am making different choices in order to better care for myself.

Life In Balance

After a surprisingly good night’s sleep, I woke up, wandered through my basic washroom routine, then I made my bed and practiced a full 30 minutes of yoga. Also, I focused my mind on these movements to find my center of consciousness and ground my physical presence in a state of balance. Next, I brewed a pot of coffee and set myself to the task of write this journal entry.

This is the first hour of my day. These 60-minutes of quiet reflection, without the triggering distractions of my iPhone and the constant barrage of thoughts and emotions imposed by people on the internet whom I will never meet nor know personally, cannot be allowed to cloud my thinking. And in these moments of relative silence, I can set my intentions for the next several hours which will include my best efforts to be a kind and thoughtful expression of my truest self; the person I most want to be.

With these same intentions, I can define how I will engage with the rest of the world. In the days that follow I will be the embodiment of my best intentions. I will no longer react to circumstances of my life as they unfold. Instead, I will deliberately bring to the world the things I want most for myself: love, compassion, kindness and joy.

It is with this sense of balance and peaceful self-awareness that I am making my way in the world through these days on the road. Night after night of hotel room beds, too infrequent opportunities for exercise and inconsistent meals are a constant challenge.

The Capitol Christmas Tree  

And as our annual journey across the nation continues, I am gratefully reminded each day of the indomitable spirit of the American people. At the many communities we visit there is still a profound sense of hope and optimism for a brighter future. That inspires me to keep moving forward with a sense of renewed enthusiasm. That makes me happy.

We continue to travel across the country to share the wonders of our national forests as we celebrate the beauty of our public lands. You can follow the 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Tour through pictures on our story map. https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/a9413688b4184d859afd5272bd79cc6d
See where the tree’s headed next on its tour: uscapitolchristmastree.com/calendar

The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Tour is a collaboration of the U.S. Forest Service and the Society of American Foresters with the support from the Kenworth Trucking Company, 84 Lumber and dozens of other corporate and nonprofit partners who cooperate to deliver the People’s Tree.

Headline image: Friendly faces on the trail of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree in Murray, Utah at Wheeler Historic Farm (left Caroline Gleich, Katie Boué, Brody Leven, and James Edward Mills)

This story was edited by Natasha Buffo