Life can be terrifying. This world can be terrifying. This country can be terrifying.
I understand how anyone can be incapacitated by fear.
Fear tells us that darkness is all their is.
Fear tells us that there's no point.
No point in speaking up. No point in taking a step. No point in asking a new question.
Fear is trying to protect us. Fear wants us to be safe. Fear wants us to know our limitations.
But, fear doesn't get to make the decisions. Fear doesn't get to drive. Fear doesn't get to say how we live.
In these days that feel so unstable, so contrary to anything resembling hope, so dark, we must not let fear tell us that we are any different than our neighbor. Deep down, we are all made of the same earth. We all have the same longings - to be loved, to have significance, to have purpose.
We must not fear our differences. We must remember that there is always another seat at the table. For every color, for every gender, for every political party.
When we fear each other, we villainize each other.
When I fear you, I raise myself above you.
We must always hold one another accountable. Always.
But, fear? We cannot let fear dictate how we treat each other.
When we dismiss fear, then we must face the challenge of listening to each other with open minds. When we dismiss fear, there is room to listen.
Fear of the other is what leads to racism and sexism.
Fear of the other is what leads to lashing out violently.
Fear of the other is what leads to holding on to "rights" as people die daily at the hands of fearful individuals.
On this terrifying day, that once again makes me feel like I never want to leave my home, I want to remind myself of these things.
Hold your baby a little tighter.
Kiss a little longer.
Drink another glass of wine.
Speak up.
Call your representative.
Keep listening to that voice that's saying, We are all the same.
Give fear a moment of your time.
And then tell fear to get gone.
I understand how anyone can be incapacitated by fear.
Fear tells us that darkness is all their is.
Fear tells us that there's no point.
No point in speaking up. No point in taking a step. No point in asking a new question.
Fear is trying to protect us. Fear wants us to be safe. Fear wants us to know our limitations.
But, fear doesn't get to make the decisions. Fear doesn't get to drive. Fear doesn't get to say how we live.
In these days that feel so unstable, so contrary to anything resembling hope, so dark, we must not let fear tell us that we are any different than our neighbor. Deep down, we are all made of the same earth. We all have the same longings - to be loved, to have significance, to have purpose.
We must not fear each other.
We must not fear our differences. We must remember that there is always another seat at the table. For every color, for every gender, for every political party.
When we fear each other, we villainize each other.
When I fear you, I raise myself above you.
We must always hold one another accountable. Always.
But, fear? We cannot let fear dictate how we treat each other.
When we dismiss fear, then we must face the challenge of listening to each other with open minds. When we dismiss fear, there is room to listen.
Fear of the other is what leads to racism and sexism.
Fear of the other is what leads to lashing out violently.
Fear of the other is what leads to holding on to "rights" as people die daily at the hands of fearful individuals.
On this terrifying day, that once again makes me feel like I never want to leave my home, I want to remind myself of these things.
Hold your baby a little tighter.
Kiss a little longer.
Drink another glass of wine.
Speak up.
Call your representative.
Keep listening to that voice that's saying, We are all the same.
Give fear a moment of your time.
And then tell fear to get gone.
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