Unique Times

Everyday we have a choice,

Will we let ourselves get swallowed up in darkness,

Or continue to reach for the light?

It’s not easy this push to the left and pull to the right,

Even our families are in a tizzy and fight.

It seems so clear to me, and clear to them, 

That they will do anything to divide our plight.

But the question is how can we continue to be true and honest to our ideals and have a dialogue so we don’t divide and separate creating more discord and dissonance?   It’s one thing when we know someone from a distance or as a colleague or client, but it’s quite another, when it’s someone we love and care about; a child, sibling, parent or good friend.

Today is my Dad’s 86th birthday and we are on polar opposite sides in this election which isn’t easy.  It gives me the opportunity to love unconditionally, while I disagree wholeheartedly, and a chance to get my bloated nothingness out of the way as Ralph Waldo Emerson said in so many words.   What I do know is that the election will soon be behind us, and we will be faced with what is in front of us, and moving on from there is crucial, so we can create openings that unite, instead of divide.  Why is this so difficult to do?  

We are living in unprecedented times right now, which create unrest inside, while we try to find our center.  The bombardment claws at us internally and we feel torn and ripped apart by opposing values. We feel violated, unheard, with forces opposing each other at every level, and the decency of being human, seems to be throw to the wind.  This creates tension within, and a desire to search for meaning in our life. 

Who are we is the age old question, and even if  we knew at one point, we are forced to look again, and grapple and search for answers.   We toss and turn and move into reaction by speaking out, or shut down, because it’s just too much to deal with.  Something wants to be born and birthing is never easy.  We can fall prey to false gods or to overwork, depression, anxiety, reaction, impatience, inertia or spin like a top, bouncing off walls.  Our voice so much wants to be heard, so we yell which falls on deaf ears or we go radio silent, because we feel so powerless, wondering if our voice matters at all. These repressed feelings go underground and we think there is something wrong with us, when in fact, there is nothing wrong with us, but there is something terribly wrong in our world. 

It’s hard to have discussions when we are polar opposites.  So how do we survive this period in our lives that we are all in together and not go into reaction or no action at all?  It’s hard to side step the issues because they are glaring at us in the face, demanding resolution, which bring justice not for one, but for all.

 We all have different ways to deal with it but one way for me, is to come to my W.P. family, where I can write and get out on paper what, is so bottled up inside. I trust one of you will hear and witness me for having these feelings without being judged, and I feel validated and cared for. If one person hears us, it shifts our internal landscape and gives us hope.  It’s a gift we share in our community here, where we contribute to the well being of each other and feel understood.  We each have our own motives and agenda but we all have the commonality of writing from our hearts, to share something from our soul. 

We each have different religious beliefs, color of our skin, sexual preferences etc, but we have writing in common.  The power of our words, move people and each one of us contributes to the well being of each other.  I had this epiphany when I read something that felt like it was written directly to me, which moved me so deeply.  I had a cathartic experience where the words penetrated my soul so deeply and I felt so heard and seen that tears cleansed old wounds in my psyche and tissues.  It made me think when we come to the page and share our stories, poems, thoughts, drawings, photography, ideas and hearts, that we never know who we impact and our words have the ability to reach deep in someone’s being, across continents and transcend time and space.

Tears run down my face in streams to the river,
Grace touches my soul,
I am heard and seen.
My friends the trees, the flowers and your words hold me,
As I swing from the branches. 
The rings tell their age, but I am young and free.
How long do we hold grief in our tissue and our soul?
I am heard and I am seen, for all of my flaws. 
I stand before you naked held in space, feeling whole,
Hunger sufficed, as peace and joy fill the space, 
Taking the place where grief lives,
Tucked neatly behind my smile.
But I am heard and seen now. 
Thank you for this gift.

There is no distance in hearts that love.  We are love.  That’s why we’re here on this planet and if we can hold our tongues accountable and speak with kindness, we can hold each other together here on the page and change our future.  If we can do it here, we can map that to each soul so that we may find peace and love.  We might not change the world all at once, but one voice at a time, touching one soul at a time, rooting us back to why we are here on this planet at this particular time, gives me solace and comfort. I thank each of you for showing up with all of your trials and tribulations and sharing your stories, because you matter. 

You matter to me. You are love, you deserve love and we all need each other.  We are the stars in the sky and universe, each casting different gifts, reflecting back at each other to pave a path for love, wholeness, peace and happiness, casting light in shadows where we can all live as one. That is who we are.

Thank you for reading this and the contribution you make in my life.

A special thanks to Jason Gotlib for his spectacular photography that is so heartfuld and a beautiful addition of love and support.

And Happy 86th birthday Dad, I’m fortunate to have you in my life to share our truth, even if we disagree. It’s an honor to have a chance to be truly authentic in my views, but I’m just grateful my vote cancels out yours!

In Love and always light,

Cindy

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