inhale...exhale...relax your shoulders...repeat as often as needed

Saturday, March 11, 2017

"strong people do"


Yesterday afternoon the snow squalls came racing across the valley and the freezing temperatures have returned. We are in the grip of grey skies and yellow/brown grass and a bit of gloom.  Both the weather and the news feel much like the fog of Harry Potter's dementors...the iciness that comes as the soul is sucked out of the dementors' prey.

Jottings in my planner--things that are resonating with me these days...
"mass psychosis" (Joanna Macy, via for the wild, here)
"the politics of fear" (AFSC, here)

Inertia and defeat...I smell them.  I can feel them nipping at my heels. Like I did a bit ago. I try to stay ahead of them...

In upper case letters, I am jotting RESIST AND PERSIST. Because it's the only way forward.

So I also jot...
"action and transformations" (TED Talk by Kimberle Crenshaw, here).
"we exist, we resist, we rise" (the water protectors, here)

And last night, we braved the cold, wind and snow and drove to Burlington with friends to see Ladysmith Black Mambazo, an all-male South African a cappella singing group. Oh...the sold out show was just what the audience needed...a venue filled with joy and hope and resistance.

"Tough times never last forever, strong people do..." Listen here.

Strong people do.

Let's keep trying, friends.

xo

10 comments:

  1. Always.

    And that's so true -- tough times never last forever.

    And I love the analogy to the dementors (maybe we need more chocolate).

    Sending love and light and thoughts of beauty and joy.

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  2. Our little town of Hopewell, NJ, had all of its "Hate has no Home Here' lawn signs stolen last night. Keep on keeping on. We're all in this together.

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    1. Yes, we are all in this together. So sorry to hear about the vandalism. xo

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  3. Also, have you listened to this yet? https://www.ted.com/talks/megan_phelps_roper_i_grew_up_in_the_westboro_baptist_church_here_s_why_i_left

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    1. I will find some time to listen (during the snowstorm!) Thanks for the link.

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  4. Here is honey for the bitter taste in the mouth, salve for the blistered skin, just when we need it most. Inertia and defeat arm in arm no more.
    thank you

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    1. you are welcome, friend. kindred spirits. xo

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  5. One from the Brits....keep calm and carry on!
    I love that you will always find beauty no matter how dark it gets.
    xxxxx

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