If the only thing that matters to the men currently in charge is money, then there are two things we can do – 1) we can control where and how we spend money and 2) vote them out of office (well, three things, if you are inclined to run for office).
If it’s more important to deregulate the Internet so AT&T, Time Warner, Comcast, etc., can make more money, so Netflix, Hulu and our cable bills cost more, then we protest with our pocketbook (yes, what we protest here is tricky…I, for one, am canceling TV but I still need the Internet).
Today, on the fifth year anniversary of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary, when there have been more than 1500 mass shooting since that day, there is still zero legislation on guns. Yet, we can do something. We can donate something whether it’s time, a couple dollars or much more to organizations who are on the front line of prevention. The NRA is wealthy because of their members. We can make the Everytown for Gun Safety equivalent to the NRA. We can put bumper stickers on our cars and patches on our clothes to boast that we are proud members of gun control for the safety and sanity of our world.
And, this holiday season we can be intentional with where our dollars go. The highest form or protest is with our pocketbooks, because the biggest thing this GOP, the Koch brothers, the Mercy Family, the Trump klan care about is $$$$$$$$.
We can shop local, give experiences vs. stuff, buy used or at consignment shops and consider the effects of everything we purchase on our most sacred mother of all – earth. Watch Annie Leonard’s Story of Stuff to understand what and how we consume. It is brilliant. `
I wake each morning inspired by those who are running for office, running organizations, bravely sharing their stories, courageously wearing their hearts on their sleeves.
I cried tears of relief on Tuesday night when Alabama restored my faith in the goodness of people.
Yet, I fear growing numb, complacent, tired. I fear saying the wrong thing, so often I say nothing at all. I fear the false connection or disconnection of social media. I fear judging people who think differently than I do and missing the opportunity to understand and connect. I fear my own limitations and not being as big and bold as I can be during my brief time in this body. I fear loneliness. I fear regret, that I spent much of my youth running from me instead of turning inward to become me. I fear that I don’t know how to ask for help because I’m not sure what I need. I fear being overwhelmed. I fear being verbally attacked. I fear attacking back. I fear that if I don’t send these actions the 313 people on this list, that I am not doing enough. Mostly, I fear that I’m not doing enough.
The question is how do I face these fears? How do I live more aligned and in integrity with my truth? How do I reconcile what causes me pain? How do I use my pain to grow and be more open, raw, connected, feeling? How do I live a life worthy of the time I have?
Mostly I want to connect with you and feel inspired with you to make a difference, to keep fighting the attacks on our humanity and preserve the preciousness of our world.
I want to be more like my wife who lives in joy and yet I know, even in my light, I see the shadow. I am not uncomfortable in the darkness even though I am frequently uncomfortable in my own skin. Yet, I work though the discomfort knowing that with you things matter more, in community, in connection and on purpose.
I thank each of you for doing all you do to make our world feel more connected. I thank you for being awake, for caring, for your compassion, your wholeness, your fears, your hopes and your belief that together we make a difference.
And, each day I strive to live in the belief that we can change what doesn’t feel good, that we can reform our gun laws, that we can vote out greed, that we can live more in love, that we can help those in more pain than we are, that we can openly share our pain as living vulnerably is living in intimacy, however scary that maybe.
In love and gratitude to you –
:: genessa