|
THIS PAST MONTH . . .
and especially this past week, I see a particular pain present in more people. Even beyond the velocity and veneer of everyday life, I can tell that there is a deep knowing that many are finally digesting: the only way out is through...
The illusions of 'it's far away,' or 'it doesn't pertain to me,' shattering with each creeping incident, as they occur closer to home, closer to the safe spaces and identities that many people assumed would protect them...
And I can see that their pain stems from a fear, one rooted in the knowledge that they alone cannot fix everything, that they cannot stop the train wreck they see unfolding in front of them. It's so easy to spiral into isolation and overthinking - compromising what we know to be true deep in our bodies and bones, and acting in ways that ignore the inherent goodness in our souls. Most often it takes the form of simply shutting down and allowing the status quo to continue, because it feels like too much to tackle.
So we here with you, once again, to ask you to reorient. We all need to ground our overloaded nervous systems, over and over again. Take a few seconds to breathe, take a few minutes to go outside and feel the sun on your face, listen to the wind whistle, or watch the waves crash, and keep your eyes out for the birds. See a baby on the street and share a warm smile with them. These little things mean a lot.
This is not a practice of distraction - it's not burying yourself in errands, or numbing with Netflix (though we fully condone getting lost in the deep joyful feelings that unfold in engaging with Heated Rivalry). Finding joy in these grounding forces does not equate to toxic positivity (though we understand the importance of critical thinking around that topic) - on the contrary, it's the very thing that expands your capacity to feel your way through. These efforts won't allow you to bypass suffering, but they will buoy you through it, one moment at a time, so that you don't drown in a pit of despair.
Why does it work? Because it is a practice of connection. Connect with your body, connect with your breath, connect with the rhythms of the most powerful and potent system of creation all around us - the one that brings life and growth (and the inevitable death and decay that support life and growth) over and over and over again.
Once you remember that you are alive - in a body right here, right now - go back to your touchstone and recognize that everything is connected. Ride that wave of energy and let it move you. Remember that the grief that you feel stems from the deep love that you hold. Open your heart first, then open your ears and eyes, and walk through the world open to the endless opportunities in front of you, each and every day, to show your gratitude for existing exactly as you are in this moment.
If you're looking for a more grounded example, consider the forest floor. It's a place where plant biologists note:
Thanks to the Wood Wide Web, the sapling growing on a dark patch of the forest floor could rely on resources made and found a few hundred yards over, where supply is ample. Suddenly a lone tree isn’t necessarily competing for survival in isolation; instead, it is part of a community not unlike the ones we humans form.
In other words . . .
Let love, rooted in interconnectedness, guide your words and actions.
The most powerful tool that we have is the belief that we can collectively bring our visions of this beautiful, bountiful, abundant, and supported world to life.We are here to be in reciprocity with each other (and sometimes your contribution is to graciously receive the generosity and care of someone else, too). As David Gate wrote in the introduction to his book, A Rebellion of Care:
To say that "this life is beautiful" or that "love is the answer" is not in the least bit original, but it is the truth. I believe that truth still hums with possibility. And say something true in a world awash with lies is the first act of rebellion.
Hope is an action. We are here to act in solidarity with you.
Together,
Tay + Dor
|
