Friends, there is a lot of heartbreak and tragedy going around. Our country is on fire politically, suffering a public health epidemic from gun violence in it's many manifestations, and staggering from recent natural disasters.
Most recently, here in our community, a 14 year old Native American boy was shot dead by police. I am not looking to start a debate about gun control (one way or the other) or anything else, but just witnessing that at times (much of the time) the world can feel incredibly heavy and the grief and frustration and questions can become overwhelming.
How do we start to turn these things around? How do we talk to our children about these kinds of events and help them feel safe in the world? How do we keep ourselves and our loved ones safe?
How do we strike some kind of healthy life balance— between self care and well-being, and working to be agents of constructive change— in the midst of what my friend and colleague, Tracie Nichols, calls "burning times?"
I have some thoughts and opinions as we all do, but I don't have answers— mostly more questions.
So I'm trying to live the questions.
And take some inspiration and solace where I can find it. For me, that often means taking my grief out into the woods or onto the water to find some peace in natural spaces.
And sometimes art, music, poetry can support, soothe, and strengthen us in a way that logical thought or questioning cannot.
It enables us to step back into the fray lovingly, constructively, effectively.
So I thought I'd share this poem:
there is breaking news and twitter rants
and there is an achingly blue sky with burnished orange oak leaves singing their beauty in silhouette
there is heavy commentary and social posts encouraging strong-voiced action
and there is air so brilliant and crisp it could snap between your chilly fingertips
there is pain and heartbreak in more abundance than any soul should ever bear
and there is a sea of compassion and a forest of hands reaching out to comfort
reaching out to lift up souls bearing the unbearable
How do you nurture yourself, your loved ones, your community at these times?
Love and peace and grit to all of you.
Simplify and revitalize with small doses of natural beauty, calm, soul food, simple strategies for reclaiming your health and getting back to what matters most— delivered to your inbox.