Endangered

What is at stake when everything becomes endangered?

While driving and listening to NPR (become a contributor, www.NPR.org) I heard that the Monarch butterfly is endangered. 

As the sad news passed through my thoughts, I couldn’t help think, when was the last time I seen a Monarch? Would that be the last? Then the report continued and there is a disturbingly long list of animals at risk and on a list waiting approval for federal protection. How does one decide what is worth protecting? It’s hypocritical that humans are responsible to authorize protection for endangered species when we are the ones that threaten the animal kingdom.  

My little boy is mildly obsessed with saber tooth tigers. When you ask him what his favorite animal is, that will be his answer. While the prehistoric tiger has been extinct for over 10,000 years, it is famously remembered. Considering the growing list of present animal populations threatened of becoming extinct, what are we willing to lose and just remember? 

As we find new meaning in the spirit of the holidays+Covid I find myself wanting to give my children the gift of witnessing all the natural beauty of the land we live with and an honorable duty to protect it.  I share the knowledge of what plants provide and how they heal and nourish. The birds song and how to listen. I will teach my sons that just because you can does not mean you should. Our world and the life that comes from it is not ours to conquer or take. 

To my sons, be gentle and kind. Hold all life as sacred whether it be human, a tortoise, a tiger, a tree, or a delicate butterfly. 

May we honor all life as the same and eliminate the danger we pose to ourselves and our beautiful world. 

I Be Believing

What does believing mean to you?

It’s that, without a doubt I know this to be true feeling.

I believe in my family, the goodness of others, kindness and LOVE. 

LOVE is the universal bond we all believe in.   

Last night the hubs and I watched Lillies of the Field. I love when a classic slips in and you find all kinds of meaning and worth in it.

One line said it all to me…”Everybody wants to give.”

I believe that to be true. 

Heart and Home

Just gonna dream out loud here for a minute. I dream of time together without masks or distance. Closeness without fear or hand sanitizing. We all just need a hug. 

I am so burnt out from it all. I have faith that we’re turning a corner and heading toward better days, but wowza, stubborn pride isn’t gonna concede no way no how. There is this notion that you can’t trust change. I beg to differ. I feel more calm and secure in change. I understand this is not the norm for most, but I argue that if we do not allow change in our world we forfeit our imagination of how much better life can be. 

Housing has been on my mind a lot lately. The hubs and I are in this conundrum of should we stay or should we go? We want to stay in our city, but we can’t afford to buy here. I feel guilty for even dreaming of more when I see so many of our people sleeping on the street. There is a snobbish attitude when it comes to housing. Our society makes it so hard to secure such a basic human right. There should be no requirements to have shelter. Like my kids say, “that don’t make no sense.” 

Getting pre-approved has a checklist, and even after you hit the mark there are incidentals, closing costs and fees that you have to budget for. These types of red-lining and policy’s marginalize so many of our citizens leaving them unable to provide for their families and thrive in their communities. Homelessness is national disgrace and the solutions should not be so difficult to access. Whether it is temporary, permanent, renting or owning all people deserve the right to fair and safe housing.

My desire to own a house is to be able to open my doors and give a place of belonging to others. In the movie Forest Gump his mama shared her home with people needing a place to stay. I envision myself like that. I dream of a home where my nieces and nephews can live with us when it comes time for college. Where my parents and mother-in-law can live and visit our family in comfort. Somewhere to cook and share meals together. My great grandmother turned her home in Pennsylvania into a rest home for seniors. She used her skills as a homemaker to take care of others. Mabel Amelia was a woman of action.  

When I had my sons we were in between housing. Since they were premature we were lucky enough to be able to stay at Ronald McDonald House (Big Mac’s make a Big Impact for families). www.rmhc.org  In fact, staying in this beautiful home and sharing our vulnerabilities with other families was one of the most profound experiences in my life. I loved it so much and I will always be grateful. 

The concept of sharing a space and committing to the well-being of everyone is humanity at its best. We can do way more of that. 

I get a lot of input about what we should do, what our family deserves, the low interest rates we need to take advantage of, but honestly we have everything we need and want right here and now. I am blessed to have shelter in a safe neighborhood where I know my neighbors and feel the kindness of others on a daily basis. I’m surrounded by natural beauty and warmth just having my family together during this time of uncertainty. I can live with that. Sometimes nonresistance is the change we need, just letting something new move through you. 

Let it be

It’s Friday, I’m just being, and it feels good. There is a lot in my life that is out of my control and I’m not referring to the political stage. I have stopped trying to understand it or change it. I’m just going to be.

Some new loves and gratitudes I have are……

Records, Hey DJ just play that funky music…. MUSIC…all night long

dancing while cooking

the generosity of others

Truth tellers

the cool breeze

Birds

the new neighbor we see on our morning walks

the leaf my boys gave me

all the babies I’ve held this week. thanks to the mamas who shared their lil ones with me.

My husbands patience. God, thank you. This man is a blessing.

Health.

My prayers are that we all treat each other with kindness and respect.

DeathDrop

I have to shake it up and share a truly humbling moment. 

It was an ordinary weekday, but I had participated in some zoom dance classes and was feeling an extra pep in my step.

I had showered and was feeling fresh. I already transitioned from spandex pants to an ankle length cotton shift dress. 

The hubs and I were discussing moves that engage your core. Naturally I wanted to share some of the moves I had practiced earlier.

As I was telling him how hard it is to stand and do leg lifts and stationary kicks, I felt that a demonstration was needed to really show the strength of those moves.

I was in a standing lunge with my front foot slightly out in ballet form ready to point my toes and kick my back leg in front of me like a Rockette dancer.

Controlled. Graceful.

As I swept my back leg past my standing leg the hem of my dress pulled all of me up and I unintentionally did my first Deathdrop.

I sat still. Stunned and nervous that I had done some real damage. The hubs was disturbed and panicked at what he had just seen. Asking me repeatedly if I was ok. He was shook.

I had literally kicked my ass to the floor. 

Major props to the Queens who are lit and have perfected the death defying drop.

Mine needs a bit more practice. 

ReFrame it

I have become way more engaged in civics, economic and social policy and what it means to govern. My own journey through financial downfall sparked my interest. Then I became a parent and that blew the door open to inequalities when it comes to healthcare, education, and housing. Once the door was open, I started asking more about banking, what about veteran’s affairs, (my dad served in Vietnam), Medicare for my parents, the climate crisis, equal rights, prison reform, addiction issues. It never stopped. Then we elected 45, and the circus around politics became more like a freak show and my interest evolved into full blown worry and fear. Today I have to consciously ask myself daily what can I do to not to contribute to the madness. How can I effectively make a difference in my home and community and the peoples lives around me. Whether it’s making a donation to a service that helps the community at large, or offering some of our own PPE to the person dealing with homelessness in this pandemic. There are small things we all can do to try and make it better for someone else. 

The Framers are mentioned a lot when we talk about issues today. Men that laid the framework for our democracy. Self appointed men that drafted the constitution. They’re dead but always present in every modern debate and battle on how to move this nation forward. I feel it’s in our best interest to reframe the constitution to better serve our world, not the other way around. A document should NOT be held in higher regard than the people it was designed to serve and protect. Without the PEOPLE of this NATION, there is no constitution to uphold. 

The framework of our landscape has definitely evolved into something that is hard to look at, but it’s there. Massive, overwhelming and painfully present in our daily lives. The ugly ooze of hate and bitterness is seeping out of every corner. We have old wounds that have never been treated or healed and the infection is deep. Cleaning the wound is one step, giving it time to heal is vital. (And no picking before its ready)

In the process of this election, we have some truths to face. Is this the story we want to tell? My feelings and opinions have no weight because they immediately take the conversation off course. I see the problem in America, and in most of the world, is that there is an extreme and violent regime that seeks to keep power from most people. The goal is to dis-empower most people. 

Politics only set limitations to what we can achieve. A course correction in our connection to our planet should not be a partisan issue. We ALL should have access to healthy food, clean water and air.  I’ve seen food deserts first hand, and when your diet consists of only processed foods at QSR’s, human beings suffer. Communities feel hopeless when they are forgotten. As people we are so detached from one another, and ourselves that we feel emboldened by ignoring the simple and effective ways to stop the spread of this virus. 

How can we lay framework for a better life for everyone, not just a selected few? Solutions are created when we have everyone represented at the table. Just yesterday I became aware of a  position in government called the PUBLIC ADVOCATE. My head exploded! I have been voting since 2000 and I have never heard of this important role that serves to hold government officials accountable. A PUBLIC ADVOCATE in every district, county, state and federal branch is the election we all need to be focused on. Giving all the power to one group was something the Framers were clear about wanting to abstain from in a democratic system. Imagine a tough, non side choosing badass HMFIC elected to PUBLIC ADVOCATE that had the authority to check elected public servants who were not doing their job. 

Who ‘gon check me boo? Me, the PUBLIC ADVOCATE, that’s who!!!

The change starts with us, in our homes. Then the roots grow into our communities. How we nurture these systems will branch out in all levels of leadership . That trickle down bullshit is one of the ideas that needs to be REFRAMED. There is so much attention on the federal level and really its the state and local governments that have the most impact on our lives. If there was more balance and accountability, we might be in a very different position in the world today. 

People say Progressive like its bad. Progressive Insurance is popular and creative with their ads, people love it and they save you money, but add that word to politics and it becomes a threat. The existence of the planet can only claim one constant and that is change. Not listening is the biggest threat to our world. I love this quote by Maya Angelou, she said “When people tell you who they are, BELIEVE THEM.” Do we want to be a country that prides itself on selfishness or selflessness? The masters of spin can always twist the perception of the public so I urge you to listen to MOTHER NATURE, if not ,then our ignorance will be the final curtain on life as we want to know it. 

MOTHER NATURE don’t play, and when you don’t LISTEN, you gotta FEEL. 

IRoccam

When I get up everyday I feel called to ACTION.

To ROCCAM. (to participate, engage, act and rock in all ways) www.iroccam.com

To get out the message that we ALL need to VOTE!!!!

The desperate move by Senators and the POTUS to fill the seat on the Supreme Court is SHAMELESS.

We as citizens should demand the resignation of all politicians that vote in favor to nominate a new justice before the 2020 election. #liarshavenoseatingovernment

Give our country and the Honorable Justice RUTH BADER GINSBURG that RESPECT.

The NOTORIOUS RBG was an exemplary citizen and judge of JUSTICE and EQUALITY. She fought tirelessly for US ALL. Thank you.

I am not interested in your politics. I am, invested in the life of our world. Everything is dying, being threatened or destroyed. Humanity is becoming endangered every time we argue about issues that affect us all. Denying rights to others is denying ourselves. A TRUE message that our world needs to remember is “LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF”. Even the ones that push fear and hate among us all.

If we want our children to inherit air to breath we better overcome the battle of the ego’s and stop listening to the deranged voices that profit from dividing us.

We need to work harder for the greater good for ALL and stop allowing this petty patriotic cronyism to exist in our government on all levels. OUR WORLD depends on it.

LOVE IT UP for the Honorable Justice RUTH BADER GINSBURG. Her words, Her wisdom. Her Truth.

• “You can disagree without being disagreeable.”

• “When contemplated in its extreme, almost any power looks dangerous.”

• “Fight for the things you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”

• “I’m a strong believer in listening and learning from others.”

Take RBG’s words and apply them. Let them be EVERLASTING. Let them be OUR LAW.

Every Mother Counts

Dear Love it up Friend,

I have joined Every Mother Counts (EMC) to run a virtual race to raise awareness for Birth Justice. As a mom I feel a deep connection and responsibility to help be a part of the solution to making maternal care and health a priority in our own country and around the world. Recently I completed coursework to be a Doula. I have been in the delivery room as labor support and believe passionately that all mothers deserve fair and equitable treatment in pregnancy and childbirth. 

As a non profit, EMC works to educate the public about maternal health, engage individuals and partners to advocate for the well-being of mothers, and invest in community-led programs to improve access to essential maternity care. 

My goal is to raise $2020 for this important cause. A gift of $20 can make a big difference to a mother in the developing world. A gift of $120 can provide one low-income woman in central Florida with four childbirth education sessions on breastfeeding, nutrition, self-care and newborn care. Your pledge can be doubled through employer match programs. Make your gift go further and have a greater impact. Plus, it is tax deductible. 

I am planning to run my race October 10th in Pasadena, and my goal is to complete 10 miles. Every Mother Counts runs because distance is one of the biggest barriers preventing women from accessing healthcare of any kind. The United States is the only industrialized nation with a consistently rising rate of maternal deaths. Severe complications of pregnancy and childbirth are also on the rise in the US – one woman every 10 minutes in the US experiences a life-threatening complication of pregnancy or childbirth. 

Please help me in reaching my fundraising goal by making a contribution. Please share and post my link so that we can reach more people. 

https://secure.givelively.org//donate/every-mother-counts/birth-justice-in-2020/mum-umba 

Thank you in advance for your support and generous donation, and for helping to make pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother, everywhere. 

With Grace and Gratitude,

Imogene 

Peace of Zen

Misinformation

Who do you trust? Democracy is pitched as the ideal of being by the people and for the people. Overtime, the cracks in that foundation are getting wider and wider. I am committed to re-educating myself and seeing clearly the polluted history of our country. There are too many examples of dangerous narratives used against issues, groups, and individuals to gain leverage and power in the system. Today, the Covid-pandemic has had a catastrophic impact on communities of color and indigenous people. Like so many times throughout history, the lives of marginalized communities are threatened and continuously suffer the failure of partisanship politics and its entitled way of governing. 

A HUGE threat is the spread of misinformation. There is no accountability when it comes to manipulating images and words to spread fear and conspiracy amongst the public. Free speech has become a thin veil of protection for unchecked and unfounded opinions that pose as facts that serve to enrage and sensationalize. Misinformation is the poison and we all keep drinking from the same well. I believe in Free Speech, but reckless speech with no consequences is harmful to the health of the Nation and the wellbeing of its people. 

The POTUS is a repeat offender. His claim as a businessman and negotiator is the farthest stretch from the facts that people are willing to accept as truth. Let’s be clear, the fact that he stands unbalanced on a platform of fake assets and unreleased tax returns is the real scheme. How many people have lost BIG due to his gain. When a fraud like that is in charge, we all lose. 

I am turned off by the politics of the world. I feel rage at the recycled rhetoric of hatred that has been spewed out in legislation and policy. My loyalty is with journalists who reveal the facts and question leaderships complicity in others suffering. My prayers are with all the courageous men and women who risk their lives to tell the truth. There is outrage all over the world against greed. Greed is the corrupt force that has been in power for far too long. 

The arguments about the the importance of the economy rebounding are ridiculous, because if we don’t address climate change, the economy means nothing. Not even the most skilled negotiator or powerful law manipulator can outsmart Mother Earth. Her powers are no match for slick words, threats of litigation, or efforts in suppression. We will all go down. 

Buying a seat at the table, like in Congress or the Senate, is an outdated practice that needs to be checked. I give my support to progressives like AOC because she is aware and present to the challenges we face. It will take BOLD WOMEN and CONSCIOUS MEN to demand better. The grooming and nepotism of civil servants is more like a private fraternity to trade and quid pro quo yourself into deals that serve your agenda. I believe it’s called the swamp (Greed crosses all jurisdictions) and DJT has been a lifelong resident.

People are calling out the failures of the past and neglecting their attention to what’s at stake for the future. 

There are lots of elections to win and all sides should have a voice. I believe that all one party should not dominate the governing body of our democracy but be created by willing individuals to work together to achieve the best policy that will ensure and protect our civil liberties for ALL people. The runaround is bullshit and if you can’t come to an agreement, then get out of the seat. When I hear the President speak of doubt in the election and proclaiming that he deserves a longer term it’s a scary feeling. We are not far off from the dictators of Belarus and Russia who change the constitution and rig elections to stay in power. Americans have to decide if being right is more important than being safe in their own country. 

We are fueling the fires of anger and fear. I am a California Native and we are experiencing the devastation of wildfires today. Once a fire has been ignited, there is little that can be done to contain it. The heroic firefighters who put their lives at risk are burned double by our lack of holding leadership accountable. Allowing the President to withhold help over the agencies that serve to protect is the ultimate betrayal. Politics are creating this hostile environment of citizens who rage with fury, and like our California wildfires, the destruction will be felt far and wide. 

We all should be careful how we engage in debate over the issues and the plan for governance moving forward. Otherwise, we may see more shattering violence on our streets, and we can be sure that the leaders in charge now will let us burn.  

Home is in my Head

We used to have this cool t-shirt with a Bob Marley quote. It said, “Home is in my head.”

That truth feels more relevant now than ever. The internal connection we have to ourselves is home.

Stress and uncertainty can make the conditions inside our head feel uninhabitable.

Reaffirming that all will be well takes practice and patience. With those two principles I offer myself kindness for my efforts in the day rather than being critical of my shortcomings.

Moving and shifting things around in our physical home is easier than editing our mind and changing the thoughts that limit our potential.

When it comes to home in my head, it’s time to break down some walls, add color, and make some space.

back in the day

This photo makes me laugh because it looks like we’re in high school but really, we are ten years passed that. This is our first family portrait. I was pregnant, in the stands, watching my guy play football. It was an alumni game, for a high school we didn't go to. But that’s my man, he’s always made friends easy and his passion is contagious.

…Ten years beyond that moment and we are still supporting one another with crazy good passion.

…Now we are playing football with our sons and loving it up everyday.

LOVEitup

It was all a dream…….

Emancipate

I have been thinking a lot about the injustice in the world and I get damn angry about it. This time of reckoning with racism, as one headline read, is the time to decide where we are going. We are all in this together has evolved from comfort words during a pandemic to strengthening voices and people against hate.

The outrage and anger are the fuel needed to envision better for everyone.

Discussions over monuments and portraits should be over. Get rid of them. Shut it down. What we are experiencing now holds true that no glory can be found in those histories. End the abuse and transgressions against people that have suffered and sacrificed too much already.

I am 38 years old and have struggled with family, peers, and concrete mindsets about how the world works. When I chose to date my boyfriend, who was black, I was met with strong opposition from my family. They warned me of prejudice, being treated unfairly, and overall choosing a harder life. They demanded that I choose differently. When I didn’t, I had to navigate the world alone. Nineteen years later, my boyfriend then is my husband now. We have two sons, and are navigating a world together that seeks to make life harder for most. Divisive views and nostalgia for the good ‘ol days have never been my vibe. Twenty years ago I wouldn’t accept the excuse that its just the way it is and I refuse to accept that now.

The old ways are dying but the influence is still strong. It enrages me when a young person has given up on change, when they have a cemented belief that corruption and injustice are normal. My grandmother used to say, “Don’t cut your nose to spite your face”. Wiki explanation- “a warning against acting out of pique, or against pursuing revenge in a way that would damage oneself more than the object of one’s anger.” My translation, Don’t fuck it all up for everyone. We are all accountable to create better replacements for old ways. I feel confident in the believers and dreamers. The ingenuity and industriousness of the new minds will make it impossible to look back. The focus can be on what’s ahead.

Thankfully, there are more citizens united in the demand for equality and fairness. The protests are to put an end to systemic racism that keeps people down with no ladder to climb. No one is waiting anymore for that ladder. It’s going to be people lifting one another up and reaching back to give their hand to another. Imagine the constitution being a living document that serves the wellness of the world first. Imagine better anything. Just Imagine.

We are all Connected

The protests that are happening all over the world are bringing light to the dark systems that oppress and kill the human sprit.

I can’t breathe speaks to the chokehold that old systems are so desperately trying to keep on the world.

I have seen Peace officers standing with protesters and showing solidarity with the movement. Their acknowledgement of the abuse and violence that exist give me hope. Unfortunately, those are very few examples of kindness. I have seen the most cruel and vile behavior of police attacking protesters. The most striking evidence of this systemic abuse was watching an old man get pushed backward with force. As his head was bleeding onto the concrete, an officer went to assist him and another pulled him away from helping. That type of brotherhood that stays silent and refuses to help is the disease that has infected all of the world. And when the public sees this, the department defends itself and places the blame on the old man’s balance. This is shameful and it happens ALL THE TIME. How many injustices have Black and Brown communities endured? Far too many. The constant cycle of violence, oppression, incarceration, denial, withholding should all be eradicated from our society. We are close, but the we cannot lose focus of what we are fighting for. Our demand for justice, fairness and equality now will be the gifts we give our children for the future. I can’t imagine that this fight today will be one we repeat 30 years from now. To suffocate people from racism, bigotry and prejudice is a pandemic which desperately needs a cure.

We see all the time in which we are connected. Whether it is through technology, our genes, our friendships and communities. Our differences are microscopic in the larger picture of life. The privilege of life is to give, share and learn. One person can make a big difference. Many can change the World.

Love it up in your thoughts, words and actions and feel the power in connection.

Joy and Love

United for Change

As I watched the news unfold about protests around the country for George Floyd my heart was heavy with pain for the families of all the innocent lives taken by law enforcement. I am angered at how our leaders are blaming one another for not keeping cities safe from the outrage of their citizens. Newsflash, our cities are not safe and its not because of protesters. People are outraged because the organization that is sworn in to protect and serve are targeting and killing. A man died for no reason. His arrest allegedly, was over a $20 counterfeit bill. What the fuck? We are in a pandemic, people are struggling and four policemen deem that a reason for detainment. The cruel and inhumane treatment of this man lead to his death. All four officers are responsible. When you heard George Floyd cry out, “I CAN’T BREATHE”, no one protected him and that is abhorrent. Our world and this country are in the midst of total collapse. Citizens are fully woke to the injustices of our society. The hypocrisy is that a black man can die at the hands of our police for a petty crime and the current President and his administration can commit crimes, incite violence and threaten our democracy with reckless authority. We cannot let this happen. We, the people, are all at risk of losing our rights and our lives if we continue to accept this as normal.

We can stand together even with our differences and agree that this is not a GREAT AMERICA.

It is shameless and disgraceful that a black man can’t go for a run without being hunted and killed in broad daylight, and yes that is a recent and real atrocity that just occurred to Ahmaud Arbery. Breonna Taylor was a young woman with a bright future and she was murdered in her home by police. No- knock warrants are a threat to us all and a violation of the law. There is blood in the soil and the law protects those in the highest offices. The threats of violence to the individuals who expose these acts of murder speaks to the collective anger of the time we live in. Our anger should be centered around the unregulated free agency to kill human beings with no consequence and the protection for those persons under the law.

What I hate is VIOLENCE. Brutality breeds rampantly in our lives. People have endured physical, sexual, emotional, economic and psychological abuse by the governing systems that work to separate us.

I believe we can live in a non-violent world. There is a better way.

The ideal of a great nation is worth fighting for.

The small print of the headlines are important to understand. This is not an isolated incident. Protesting is a result of officials not taking action over and over again. There is so much pain from all the corruption and silence. Now people are taking a stand against the systems of violence in our society, and I have hope we can change it for the better.

<3

The mornings have been so beautiful. I am lacking the discipline to be an early riser, but when I do get up as the sun is rising I am in awe of how majestic it is. I am thankful to be here, NOW. My sons are finishing up first grade and I am proud of our homeschool efforts. Let me be clear, we have had more screen time, some eye rolling and frustrations, but overall we understand each other better. Instruction on self wellness, connection, and leadership, take a little more effort to explain.

These are just a few concepts that I am trying to create an awareness about in our home. I found a suggestion about how to show your kids how one action has a ripple effect throughout the world. Drop a pebble into some water and watch the current go out. The vibration is in everything. Even something small can have a big impact.

What kind of impact do we want to have? The ripple effect will be felt far beyond the present moment. How will we look back at this time?

20 years ago, I was a high school graduate experiencing a world post Y2K and pre 911. My junior college cost $11 per unit, I developed my film into prints, I still bought my music and picking a movie from blockbuster took just as long as it does now to scroll Netflix.

There is more work now than ever for every generation that has come before this 2020 graduating class. I am proud of all the graduates who made it through quarantine, helped their families in so many ways, sacrificed and cooperated for the health of all our communities. I want to make you proud by being engaged in what affects you. The present moment demands that we pay it forward for the young, old and everyone in between.

20 years from now, I want to feel peace in my efforts to contribute to our world. I want to make it a safer world for all living creatures to THRIVE. I want to know that I helped, served, comforted and uplifted. I want to live in the UNFORCED RHYTHMS OF GRACE, and there is enough for everyone.

Be safe. Stay Healthy for yourself and others. Love to all.

Shine and Rise

Tomorrow is Earth Day and the Sun is making its return to our daily lives and I could not be happier than to embrace the warmth. The coldness of the weather and our current climate cannot stay center stage forever. As we all question leadership and guidelines, I offer this one seed of hope. The Love and Kindness of Humanity is expanding. For every struggle and challenge, there are sparks of creativity that will change our way of Life for better.

It’s easy to be positive when the the skies are clear, but it takes courage to see beyond dark days. I came across a bold line that hit me hard. The spirit is strong but the flesh is weak. This comes to mind when I see the personal outcry from citizens who don't agree with the stay at home orders. Our personal rights to come and go as we please jeopardize the health of everyone, even yourself. This sacrifice is a small offering to the damage we all have done. This is no time for blame and anger. Believe me, I have been tested and felt a bitterness toward the greed and corruption that still seeks to be a parasite in our world. But there is no one person, group, country or policy that got us here. This is not a business deal that can be negotiated. We all will have to suffer the consequences of putting business ahead of the whole wide world.

I am inspired by the ones rising to the challenge, who will speak up, sing loud, and go to battle together for their neighbors and strangers. We are all in this together just missing the personal connection in real life we all took for granted not that long ago. I am thankful for technology and the ability to connect us even when we are apart, but I will never put a screen before the gift of looking someone in the eye and talking to them in person. My hugs will last a little longer and breathing freely will be the biggest gift in all this. Through masks and distance I am still connecting with people and we share our support through small glances and non verbal communication. The feeling of mutual care and concern comfort me and I feel the love around me. Now it’s my job to put that LOVE back out there. Keep your spirit strong and let the sun shine on ya.

Faith over Fear

Faith over fear is the mantra that I have to tune into more often these days. Before Corona or modern day B.C., it was easy to have faith that all would be ok. Now, putting that into practice takes faith too. More than ever I feel the call to be brave. The time demands that we all do more for everyone. There is no one to blame, we all had been walking on thin ice for a long time. Mother Earth deserves this break from humanity. We have been exploiting her gifts for far too long. This is not a war of us against them because them is us. The time upon us is demanding transformation.

I can see my own shortcomings where I failed to act with courage. I had become comfortable in my life. Now I am being challenged mentally, physically and spiritually and I am embracing it. The phrase back to normal is meaningless because normal is toxic. There is nothing normal about children being hungry. It’s not normal to leave schools in decay while we wait to vote in the next election. It’s not normal to let our elders decide between medication and eating. It’s not normal to raise animals just to be slaughtered. It’s not normal to give greed a platform. It’s not normal incarcerate whole communities. It’s not normal to constantly take. It’s not normal that a pandemic has to occur for people to slow down. Let’s face it, the shit is a mess and it will take many brave souls to stand up for better.

The systems we have couldn’t sustain us even if there wasn’t a pandemic. What good is small percentage of people doing well and the majority, at best, is treading water holding baggage above their heads and with weights on their feet. There is no balance and no justice. My heart hears the call to be Brave and I feel connected to all my brothers and sisters who feel the same call. The men and women who are sacrificing their safety daily are the true spirit of the world. My niece took her first job at the start of this pandemic as a grocery store clerk. She is a sophomore in high school and she dove right in to serve. That is heroic.

We have the goods, the creativity, the imagination, the technology and the people to build better and smarter. Let’s build communities that encourage togetherness. We need to overhaul how we educate our youth. Language, culture, and diversity should be celebrated. We should honor our elders and protect them from systems that seek to exploit them. Medicine should be used to heal and strengthen our people not weaken them. Food should be for nourishment. We have a responsibility to the soil and seeds to grow new life into this world.

I’m ready to do the work.

Sending LOVE to Everyone.

Heal Us

Now is here, and our world needs Healing.

Every day that I am blessed to be alive I pray for Healing.

To witness our World community that shares, gives, cares, and loves unconditionally is Healing.

Being in the presence of True Heroes on the front lines, to save others, is Healing.

Kindness and generosity are Healing.

Rest is Healing.

Being one family, being in this together is Healing.

This one prayer is for Healing.

“O ye people, be ye healed;

Life anew I bring unto ye.

O ye people, be ye healed;

Life anew I bring unto ye.

Through the Father over all

Do I thus.

Life anew I bring unto ye.”

Good Eagle [Wanbli-Waste] (late 19th century)

Dakota Sioux holy man

“There is no death. Only a change of worlds.”

Seattle [Seatlh] (1786-1866)

Suquamish chief

This is shared from Native American Wisdom.