Weathering the Storm
Nov 22, 2024
I hope this finds you well and you are weathering the storms. Understanding that our ‘storms’ are unique to us, and also some are collective. I feel like we have just gone through one hell of a collective political storm.
Not assuming I know where everyone comes down as we’re all different, but if it wasn’t the outcome you hoped for - It’s okay to feel heartbroken, angry, or even a mix of both at the same time.
Hold on to what you cherish. And keep close to you what cherishes you in return. This journey we call life is not a straight line and there can be many ditches filled with desperation and despair. But as Rebecca Solnit said so beautifully:
“There is no alternative to persevering, and that does not require you to feel good. You can keep walking whether it's sunny or raining. Take care of yourself and remember that taking care of something else is an important part of taking care of yourself, because you are interwoven with the ten trillion things in this single garment of destiny that has been stained and torn, but is still being woven and mended and washed.”
It’s been a month full of ups and downs over here at The Insight Alliance. Nothing new in that regard! We’re excited to announce that we were accepted into Willamette Week's Give Guide for the first time. In case you aren’t familiar, it’s a two month long fundraising campaign that started November 1st. It takes a lot of work to get ready for it, but we’re excited about the opportunities it brings. The recognition alone is a testament to our impact.
Our teaching team were invited to speak at the 3PGC (the 3 Principles Global Community) Conference this weekend. Our talk was focused on the fact that however much we learn about ourselves and experience personal growth, we don’t get to escape the human experience. It can be hard, messy and devastating, and also profoundly beautiful and everything in between.
Sometimes we can think that when we have an insight or a profound shift in the way we view ourselves or the world around us it will lead to a perpetually easy and positive life.
However, our work with justice-involved adults and youth, as well as our own personal experiences, teaches us that life isn't always so straightforward. Insights and deeper understanding are undoubtedly beautiful and mentally freeing, but it doesn't automatically mean we're never going to have a bad day, or fall back into old habits, be triggered by our trauma or even do something we wish we could take back. AND it’s totally natural to feel lost.
A week ago, I found myself back in an old pattern that I thought was in my rear-view mirror. Nope! That sneaky fucker crept up on me again out of nowhere, and even though it was no less painful and caused a bit of a mess, I could see it with a bit more generosity and compassion so I could talk about it rather than try and hide it. And that alone made all the difference.
The game-changer for me was realizing that life isn't a straight line from point A to point B. It's more like a rollercoaster with ups and downs, light and dark, hope and despair - and that's all part of being human. There's no perfect place we need to get to or specific feeling we need to have to be okay.
Once I got that, it was like, "Whoa, I've been putting all this pressure on myself for no reason!" It helped me be kinder to myself and realize that feeling clear one day and not clear at all the next is all part of the deal. Neither state is better than the other - they're both okay. And underneath all of that stuff, we're all whole, complete, and beautifully human, just as we are.