• WAYPOINTS: Trump’s 60 Day Report Card

• PSYCHO-PATHS: Reframe Ideas for Success

• TRAILMIX: Delicious Cyclone Pasta

The well-being of millions of Americans is now at risk. Since I’ve dedicated my Tracks for the Journey Network to enhancing well-being, I must be honest--the first 60 days of President Trump’s term have been an unmitigated disaster for America and most of the world. The tsunami of executive orders, misguided diplomacy, bizarre tweets, and disjointed threats from the Despot-in-Chief have unleashed an unparalleled implosion of American prosperity and power. Our leaders have inflicted disruption and suffering on our nation—and the promise is for even more.

Have you been paying attention? The scope of destructive actions boggles comprehension.

The rejection of the Constitution and legal structures has brought a crisis in the governance of the nation. Trump, the only President guilty of felony crimes, has pardoned criminals, illegally impounded billions of approved spending, refused to obey judicial orders, fired thousands of justice officials, and arrested innocent Americans. The Republican Congress has abandoned its constitutional duties to allow this autocratic, imperial rule to run unchecked. Believing he is above the law, Trump has become the real criminal that would be impeached in any other era.

The stock market has plunged nearly 10% from its high in February, erasing billions of dollars of wealth from your retirement and investments, caused by wild threats of tariffs, inflation fears, and global pullback from American products. Economists predict a recession, higher unemployment, bankruptcies, and rising inflation to make us economically weaker than we have been in years. This means your prosperity will take a downturn soon as every occupation suffers.

The level of hate, scorn, and oppression has soared since the Inauguration. Attacks on Jews have multiplied. Hispanics are living in fear they could be deported even if their legal status is secure. Successful African-Americans are demeaned as merely “DEI hires,” no matter their qualifications. Women face the same treatment and are relegated to second-class vocational status. The LGBTIA community is branded as perverted and subject to violence. The number of civil rights violations has increased to the highest in decades.

The dismantling of agencies serving human welfare is tearing apart the protection vital to millions of Americans. The agencies protecting our financial structures, health, environment, education, and justice have been dismantled, throwing wide the realities of devastating human suffering. More pollution, less medical research, more quack medicine, biased school lessons, and few criminals prosecuted are already undercutting our quality of life. The prospect of senior and disabled Americans being pushed below the poverty level by the reduction in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid is real.

Our national security is diminishing as Trump abandons allies, allows brutal dictators to increase power, forsakes treaties that have protected us for decades, and forsakes the care of active service personnel and veterans. Our treaties are worthless under Trump and the nations we have stood with to fight for democracy know it. We are no longer the leader of the free world but a threat to the world order that has minimized war for 80 years. We are nearly alone and weaker than at any time in a century.

The free press is under daily assault by the Administration. Threats are made daily against television networks, newspapers, journalists, and free Americans who dare to disagree with the regime. Right-wing media, trolls, and disinformation campaigns have the goal of silencing the voices of conscience at all levels. The Bill of Rights means little to this President.

From my perspective, the darkest threat is the promotion of “Christian” nationalism. The teachings of Jesus for human rights and a moral order have been abandoned for a marriage of nationalism and religion that desires to control society. The fiendish drive to gain political power and amass wealth justifies any action from a twisted theology that steals freedoms, disempowers the needy, and disregards the common good. Disregarded is the God who loves all, rescues the oppressed, and seeks Shalom. Woe to us if we disregard the history of human suffering this philosophy has brought across the globe.

I could name many other dangers threatening our nation from this delusional, narcissistic leader. The key is to consider how much damage has been done in just two months. It is truly frightening to consider what more will unfold as this regime acts in pursuit of their dark goals.

Great nations are forged by great leaders. Nations are also destroyed by poor ones.

I hope you will find a way to join me in the struggle to minimize and even reverse our unfolding American tragedy. What we do in the next months will determine the well-being we give to our children and grandchildren. No action is too small, no vote too inconsequential, and no voice too quiet that it will not make a difference. Most Americans oppose this Administration and the threat it poses to our American ideals. Silence and apathy must not an option if we are to have a society that offers every citizen a meaningful future. Now is the time to stand tall for what really makes a great America. 

My six-year-old granddaughter and her three-year-old brother love to ride their bikes. I watched them enjoy the adventure as they raced along the sidewalk. Of course, being the winner was the goal and the three-year-old didn’t stand a chance against his older and bigger sister. He hung his head and slumped his shoulders in a complete body reaction of defeat and disappointment. Then I said, “Radler, you won the three-year-old race!” His head popped up and his shoulders straightened. I knew there were no other three-year-olds around but hoped the idea would give him a new frame of reference. The siblings rode off again and the physical outcome was the same: big sister won. But the little guy wheeled up close to me, proudly rang the bell on his handlebars, and announced with a smile, “I won the three-year-old race!”

My grandson discovered a superpower possessed by each of us. It’s the power to reframe our experience to gain a transformative perspective.

What can we do to change our thought patterns? Psychologists use the term “reframing” to describe when we seek a new perspective. The skill involves changing the way an event or situation is viewed and described to oneself. Just as every story has more than one side, so every experience can be considered from multiple angles….

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I developed this recipe after my family loved the dish at a local restaurant. Note the options of sauces. Hope you find it delicious! —JanMaree

Preparation

Slice chicken breasts into ¼” to ½” strips.  Grill in a skillet with equal parts Italian and Italian Free Dressing, until chicken is white all the way through. Bring water to a boil in a large pot.  Add farfalle pasta to boiling water and stir.  Cover with a lid, remove from heat and let sit for 20 minutes.  Drain water immediately reserving the liquid to add to the pasta in small amounts. Add the ingredients to the drained pasta:

--Diced chicken

--Diced ham

--Chopped sun-dried tomatoes

--Chopped green onions

--Alfredo sauce (Two recipes are below.)

--Garlic, salt, and pepper to taste

--Italian cheese (mozzarella, parmesan, asiago)

 Serve while hot.

 Alfredo Sauces – One Heavy, One Light

 ½ c. butter                      2 c. heavy whipping cream

4 oz. cream cheese           ½ t. minced garlic

1 t. garlic powder             1t. Italian seasoning

¼ t. salt                          ¼ t. pepper

1 c. grated Parmesan cheese

 In medium saucepan add butter, heavy whipping cream, and cream cheese. Cook over medium heat and whisk until melted. Add minced garlic, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Continue to whisk until smooth. Add the grated parmesan cheese. Bring to a simmer and continue to cook for about 3-5 minutes or until it starts to thicken. Toss with pasta.

OR TRY THIS ONE FOR A LIGHTER SAUCE

 2 T. butter                                 2 garlic cloves, minced

2 T. flour                                   2 c. 1% milk

2 oz. reduced fat cream cheese    1 t. garlic powder

1 T. Italian seasoning                  ¼ t. salt

¼ t. pepper                               ¾ c. grated Parmesan cheese

Chopped, fresh parsley

In large pot, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain well and set aside. In large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the minced garlic and sauce for two minutes until tender. Add flour and whisk until starting to brown. Slowly whisk in milk and add cream cheese, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper.  Spread over pasta and toss.

FIND MORE OF JANMAREE’S RECIPES ON HER WEBPAGE