7

“..for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.” -George Elliot

Good morning, all, 

As promised, it - the brutality that blatant, hate-filled, power-hungry leadership brings - has begun in earnest. Not to mention that as it is happening, true to our culture, we are expected to continue along with our everyday life. I have felt overwhelmed, unable to focus, guilty for being unable to focus, and then, if not paralyzed, significantly slowed down. 

This is not unexpected, and I am frustrated, which only adds to the above. I imagine that I may not be the only one. What can I do? Because this will likely happen over and over again.

Open up. There are likely moments all around you that bring in the light. But we have to be willing and able to see them. The picture above is from the planters leading up to my building. A moment of joy as I walked into my building on Monday. A sister (while I have only one birth sister, I have the great fortune to have many sisters) sent me the beautiful picture of the sunrise over the city below.

We need to be open to these; they help us connect with beauty and love, to continue moving with purpose. Like sips of water to a marathon runner. (I imagine because that just seems excruciating; it's not the particular brand of self-torture I choose.) 

Another helpful thing this week. This quote was in an email I got:

“I’ve been asked many times whether this is the Aquarian Age and it’s all just beginning, or if this is Armageddon and this is the end, and I have to admit I don’t know… Whichever way it goes, my work is the same. My work is to quiet my mind and open my heart and relieve suffering wherever I find it.” -Ram Dass

This is the reminder I needed. It’s similar to the teachings and life of Etty Hillesum, Even though I just wrote about it a week ago, I needed the reminder. I always need reminders.

And another - connecting to people. Thank you, thank you, thank you to each human that I can connect to. Those of you on this list, my dinner companions this week, the train conductor (especially when he woke me up - tired is the other thing I've been). 

Here are some other ideas from Finding Steady Ground (you should be able to click on that link):

1. I will make a conscious decision about when and where I’ll get news — and what I’ll do afterwards.
2. I will make human-to-human connection with another person and make sure we stay in motion.
3. I will pray, meditate, or reflect on those I know who are being impacted by oppressive policies, and extend that love to all who may be suffering.
4. I will read, listen to, or share a story about how others have resisted injustice.
5. I will be aware of myself as one who creates.
6. I will take a conscious break from social media.
7. I will commit to sharing with others what’s helping me.

We are going to do this together. The options are always the same - whether we walk along the path that those in power want us to or we break off and make our own road by walking, doing the work, building community.

be well, beautiful ones,

e

Caminante, no hay camino/Traveler, There Is No Road
Antonio Machado

Caminante, son tus huellas
el camino y nada más;
Caminante, no hay camino,
se hace camino al andar.
Al andar se hace el camino,
y al volver la vista atrás
se ve la senda que nunca
se ha de volver a pisar.
Caminante, no hay camino
sino estelas en la mar.
 
Traveler, your footprints
are the only road, nothing else.
Traveler, there is no road;
you make your own path as you walk.
As you walk, you make your own road,
and when you look back
you see the path
you will never travel again.
Traveler, there is no road;
only a ship’s wake on the sea.

[originally written 1.24.2025]