It's a new year, a time when individuals and organizations are looking ahead to discern what they want to do differently that will bring their purpose to life more fully. This year, social justice is a concept not easily brought to life. We are in dark times in America and around the world.
As someone who considers herself a Realist Idealist, I am not prone to flights of fantasy when it comes to injustice. I am acutely aware of how intractable systems of oppression can be. In fact, In my professional path, I have always craved both realism and re-imagination; to avoid being part of the problem, embrace speaking truth to power, and work for transformation.
These days, with so much darkness in our news feeds, I find myself longing for more light. I need to believe that we will come through this moment with our democracies intact, able to heal the planet and move us back to a path of power being used for good. So many of us are clinging to gossamer-thin threads of optimism, and I can feel us all slipping slowly down those thin threads.
As I contemplate this, I remind myself that hope can be found in small things. I can keep working my own corner of the universe, striving to be better and do better, and supporting those around me. When it all looks bleak, I can still find it in me to seek playfulness, laughter, and creativity. I can take a page from my puppy, Mattie, who seems to have endless optimism. No matter how many times she doesn't get what she wants--to eat our dinner scraps, chew our socks, or persuade us to come outside to play (when it's 10 below in Minnesota), she never stops trying. She never stops trying to come up with other angles. She has hope.
Hope like a dog, y'all. Find the light. And tell me about it in the comments.
Commentaires