Turning Trump Trauma Into Daily Dharma

I’ve only met Trump once, but it made a lasting impression. After I uttered a mere eight words to him, he told me to “F*ck off!” Here’s what happened: About 20 years ago, I was going to be on the television show Geraldo for a book I had written. Trump was on the show too, and he was having his makeup done as I waited nearby. With everything the makeup artist did, Trump had a complaint. He was relentless in his criticism.

Finally, when he was finished, he saw I was waiting next to get my makeup done and said to me, “Don’t even bother with her. She’s terrible.” Taken aback by his harshness, I reacted by saying eight words to our future president. I looked at him straight in the eye and said, “You didn’t give her much to work with.” That’s when Mr. Trump told me to “f*ck off” and he briskly walked away.

I got all self-righteous, but I figured at least I would never have to see this jerk again. Things didn’t quite work out that way. Now he’s the President of United States, and he’s going to be in my life for at least the next year and a half — maybe (God Forbid) even more. Therefore, I’ve had to create a plan for dealing with his lunacy without succumbing to constant upset.

After some reflection, I thought about the usefulness of having agitators in my life. Normally, I hide certain “shadow aspects” of myself from both myself and others. Having Trump…