I love Leslie Dwight’s post. Instead of seeing everything as horrid and bleak we must remember that every time of great change is painful. The things that change us, make us grow, or make us travel outward from all that we know, are always painful.
This year has been a pip. If we look back at the last 365 days we begin with horrible fires, locusts, floods, decapitating hornets, a global pandemic, quarantines worldwide, and a protest that is also world wide.
How will we look back on this time?
More than that I have another question that I have been asking myself a lot lately.
Where do we want to be in two years?
Yes, we want change and we want it to happen now. Right now. But this change is one that must be systemic. It is about education, changing policies and people’s ingrained ideas. I do believe we are taught who to hate by our surroundings and experiences. If your parents hate a certain type of people then most likely you will too unless something opens your eyes to a different way of thinking. Some believe we are formed by the age of 7. Perhaps that is true. What I also believe is that usually it is a powerful thing that creates change in us. It could be a trauma, a death, sobriety or powerful teacher.
I have had my eyes opened this week. I thought I knew a lot, but I listened. I heard the pain and frustration and anger. I found myself trying to understand and realizing I never really will understand, but I can empathize. I can reach out with my heart, and my words, and try to create space for others to be heard. I can say, “Listen, it will change you.”
2020 is an amazing year.
Before you say, “No it isn’t!” Here is the definition of amazing from Merriam Webster:
“causing astonishment, great wonder, or surprise
an amazing story of personal bravery and survival”
Isn’t that the description of 2020? Here we sit on the edge of breaking and greatness. Which side will we lean towards? We have opportunity right now to change things, but we have to be in it for the long haul. America wasn’t built in a day and it won’t be changed in one, but we can make it better for the generations that follow and even the one that is coming of age right now. Let’s use this dynamic energy that is circling the globe for good.
What can we do?
We can listen. We can open minds and hearts. We can vote. We can donate time and/or money. We can use our privilege, position, and talent to make sure others are heard. From the halls of Congress to our local town council meetings we pick a speaker. We pick a representative to speak for us, and sometimes we sign up to participate simply to give more time to the one we picked to speak. It is a part of our government to do that.
It is not my time to speak. It is my time to yield the floor.
Three books to check out…So you want to talk about race by Oluo, Why I am no longer talking to white people about race by Eddo-Lodge and How to be an Antiracist by Kendi There are many more books to read, people to listen to and people are sharing these on social media. There are groups to donate to and for those I send you to my friend, @therealmariskahargitay on instagram as she has put together a highlight with resources… https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/18113451853125948/?hl=en
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