Staying Right Side Up In An Upside Down World

An unusual road sign and childhood toy inspired this question and special invitation

Image credit: Photo by author

This stop sign in a local grocery store’s parking lot reminded me of how upside down the world seems right now. I thought about how hard it is to stay upright when some people seem determined to knock you down and make sure you can’t get back up.

And that thought led me to remember “weebles,” little egg-shaped toy people that I played with as a child. Commercials for them included a song that emphasized, “Weebles wobble, but they don’t fall down.”

Weebles were weighted at the bottom, so that no matter how hard you pushed them they remained upright. They swayed back and forth, but could not be knocked down.

Many of us are feeling wobbly right now. But we’re still standing. We’re resisting repeated attempts to knock us down. We’re helping others who have been pushed to the ground get back up and vice-versa.

We’re refusing to be silenced, but also refusing to respond to hate, lies, and threats with more of the same. We’re loving (or at least trying to love) our enemies instead of attacking them. We’re finding ways to be the change we want to see.

We’re seeking to understand instead of argue, because we know that it’s our example, not our opinions, that will change the world.

And because we want to be the kind of people who make a positive difference now and help create a better future, not the kind who perpetuate cycles of blame and shame that destroy lives and make transformation impossible.

So how do we stay upright and make a positive difference? That’s not a rhetorical question; I really want to know. Please share your ideas in the comments!

One thing that helps me stay upright is to seek wisdom from others. I do that in three ways:

1. I ask readers to share their wisdom in the comments.
   

2. I do Substack Lives with guests about positive changes and coping strategies.
   This Friday at 2 PM Central, Allegra Chapman (she/her) and I will talk about our bouts of depression with suicidal ideations, how we recovered, and what helps us stay upright now. You can join us live at https://open.substack.com/live-stream/61968 or watch the replay anytime.
   

3. I host public Zoom conversations about ways to be the change we want to see.
   The next one is this Sunday, October 5, from 11 AM - noon Central; sign up here.
   

I share my wisdom and coping strategies here and in presentations and support groups. I also offer private coaching to help people trust their inner wisdom and make decisions that reflect their authentic preferences instead of others’ expectations. DM me on Substack or schedule a call if you’d like to know more about these services.