Oh, these are heavy times, friends. I'm guessing that you are feeling it too. I'm having those mornings on repeat when I come into consciousness + for just a second I'm unaware of all the heaviness of a virus confirmed in our own city + all the questions that come with it. My girls work in a library + a grocery store coming into constant contact with people. My parents are in their eighties miles + miles away. We can't step out of the house without hearing someone coughing.
The leader of our country speaks of "therapies" + "miracles" which lays bare his constant misrepresentation of truth + elevation of the economy over human life (talk about pro-life ??). The race to become his opponent is a mess. Polling places are being closed in areas where minorities + less affluent people live. The number of insects found in Germany has decreased by seventy-seven percent in the past thirty years. Prisoners are making the hand sanitizer that is banned for use in their facilities. Asylum-seeking children are still being held away from their loved ones, and a for-profit facility to hold them is proposed to be built in our city far away from the border. Refugees from violence are being met with more violence in Greece.
I know all of these things...the weight of them falls before I open my eyes in the morning. I also know that whales sing + play. I know that trees communicate with one another. I know that oysters are amazingly circular + beneficial creatures. I know that one shy girl furthered a worldwide movement. I know that humans do things that are very rare among living things...we teach each other...we are kind to strangers...we cooperate altruistically. I know that politics is important, but it does not entirely hinder or exclusively enable truly amazing human discovery, innovation + collaboration.
As soon as we are able to recognize a problem we are able to be a part of moving toward a better way- offering compassion, asking questions, educating ourselves + our children, signing petitions, showing up to rallies, voting, encouraging others + considering ourselves running for office, showing up, doing the work, thinking deeply, having conversations, collaborating + acting strategically.
Fear debilitates, isolates + makes us dangerous to others. Love + hope empower ...expand imagination + possibility...and move us toward each other. Like fear, love + hope spread and reproduce. Seek hope with fervor...awaken love with purpose...and will them to take hold.
I'm still singing for my age + I'm still believing in the change.
I'm singing for my age
'Cuz I'm believing in the change
The links starting in the third paragraph of this post have nurtured my hope recently. Fingers crossed they do the same for you. :)
Love,
Jane
The leader of our country speaks of "therapies" + "miracles" which lays bare his constant misrepresentation of truth + elevation of the economy over human life (talk about pro-life ??). The race to become his opponent is a mess. Polling places are being closed in areas where minorities + less affluent people live. The number of insects found in Germany has decreased by seventy-seven percent in the past thirty years. Prisoners are making the hand sanitizer that is banned for use in their facilities. Asylum-seeking children are still being held away from their loved ones, and a for-profit facility to hold them is proposed to be built in our city far away from the border. Refugees from violence are being met with more violence in Greece.
I know all of these things...the weight of them falls before I open my eyes in the morning. I also know that whales sing + play. I know that trees communicate with one another. I know that oysters are amazingly circular + beneficial creatures. I know that one shy girl furthered a worldwide movement. I know that humans do things that are very rare among living things...we teach each other...we are kind to strangers...we cooperate altruistically. I know that politics is important, but it does not entirely hinder or exclusively enable truly amazing human discovery, innovation + collaboration.
As soon as we are able to recognize a problem we are able to be a part of moving toward a better way- offering compassion, asking questions, educating ourselves + our children, signing petitions, showing up to rallies, voting, encouraging others + considering ourselves running for office, showing up, doing the work, thinking deeply, having conversations, collaborating + acting strategically.
Fear debilitates, isolates + makes us dangerous to others. Love + hope empower ...expand imagination + possibility...and move us toward each other. Like fear, love + hope spread and reproduce. Seek hope with fervor...awaken love with purpose...and will them to take hold.
I'm still singing for my age + I'm still believing in the change.
I'm singing for my age
'Cuz I'm believing in the change
The links starting in the third paragraph of this post have nurtured my hope recently. Fingers crossed they do the same for you. :)
Love,
Jane
