Awakening to Hope
It’s Monday morning and I can’t wait to get to work. And so I pause to write this, capturing the moment in perpetuity.
It’s Monday morning and I can’t wait to get to work. And so I pause to write this, capturing the moment in perpetuity. I can’t wait to get to work!
Trump has been in office just one week, rapidly dismantling so much of what we’ve worked towards. And still, I am filled with hope.
There is so much useful, positive work to be done—and I get to be part of it!
I used to feel so separate. So alone. So on my own.
Today, I am part of a movement. I am connecting with others like trees connect through the fungal network—growing, growing, always growing underground. And I am connected with Self.
Many years ago, I completely failed to make it as an artist. I was in a dark, hard place. Broke, filled with anxiety, my body sick. I needed money and stability and was fortunate enough to get a job with my county as an Environmental Educator.
It was the first time in years that I had access to health insurance. My body was in desperate need of support. A coworker recommended her Naturopath, and I made an appointment. To this day, we’re not sure how I got in—she was not accepting new clients at the time.
My new Naturopath asked me about my usage of alcohol, something I’d been struggling with for a long time. I was more honest with her than I expected to be, telling her that I drank more than I should, but wasn’t ready to do anything about it.
Her response was surprising. She simply said, “Ok, let’s see how we can support your body through this”. No judgement. No admonishment that I should stop drinking. Simply acceptance and support, which allowed me to begin to trust her—something that did not come easily to me. It also brought me one step closer to acknowledging and accepting my own dependance on alcohol.
Our society is similarly in such pain, such sickness. Many are isolated and struggling. How can we support those in need, whether they are ready to accept the harms they are doing to themselves and others or not? How can we remain hopeful even as our world makes less and less sense?
The first step for me is to move from denial into acceptance—to accept the reality of what is. From there, my next step clarifies, and I can begin to see where I can have the most positive impact.
Today, this impact begins with connecting. Connecting with you through these words. After that? I’m going to get to work and continue to co-create a world where we ALL have the opportunity to thrive.
Will you join me in this beautiful work?