copyright © cicely nelson 2016
2 Comments
Change isn't always fast. Sometimes it seems righting a wrong that's half a millennia old may take just as long. That doesn't mean it's not happening. The increased activism of the past two weeks may appear to be subsiding slightly, but it will never drop to pre-Trump levels. You can say what you want about the Pantsuit Nation, but that group has mobilized millions of previously fairly apolitical people. Not to mention the numbers of that group who are now running for public office. The ACLU is stronger than ever before in its history, Black Lives Matter is practically mainstream (Glenn Beck is now on board!? We are truly living in apocalyptic times). On of my favorite conversations this week has been with a colleague, who posted this. Politically, it's a call to continue to educate ourselves, to listen more than we talk, to be more interested than interesting, and to protest peacefully when possible, but never stop protesting. But it also has somatic correlates: we must allow our bodies and minds to fall silent from time to time. We must recharge at a baseline of calm in order to stay in the fight. If we are constantly abuzz, we cannot listen to the wisdom that courses through our veins. And per kindness; sometimes it means being explicitly loving but sometimes it's admonishing someone for not knowing better, withdrawing from toxic people, or fighting back to protect yourself. Somatically, sometimes kindness is nidra and other days it's boxing.
Personally, these past few months I've cleaned house, holding myself and those close to me to higher standards of integrity. I've investigated why I allowed less than nourishing relationships and habits in my life. I've established greater awareness of my boundaries and how I enact them. I'm more profoundly aware of my own permeability - sensitivity to energies - and take steps to protect myself. I share this not out of boastfulness, but to urge you to do the same. Now is not the time to compromise. copyright © cicely nelson 2016
|