Four years ago, those of us on the left began to tell a story of resistance.
We were angry and inspired.
Inspired by General Leia and the rebels, inspired by countless warrior queens and goddesses from across time and space, inspired by all of the public figures and everyday people had come before us to stand against bigotry, division, and hate.
We were also afraid.
We didn’t ask to resist and dissent. Many of us would have preferred to stay in the realm of light and love, but we stood up and spoke up anyway. We were imperfect in this process. Our voices shook. When it came to those of us who possessed privilege of one kind or another, our biases showed. And yet...
Finally, here in November 2020, we can say that our resistance, in whatever form it took, was effective. Well, effective enough for the moment. There’s still so much to do. There's good trouble to make.
Still, many of us are afraid. Afraid that our win, though decisive, was not a landslide and all too many people still back a bully and a liar. Afraid about what happens as the current occupant of the White House continues to deny his defeat.
Angry. Inspired. Afraid.
This is a heady cocktail. It can make you brave, but then it can leave you stumbling with a hangover and morning after regret. Any movement or action motivated by fear is going to be followed by a bitter aftertaste, and it’s never going to be as effective as when you’re motivated by faith.
Most of the time, I am free of fear and full of hope. But that takes daily, focused effort as I work to stay informed even as I turn down the voices of division and panic that scream from both ends of the spectrum. I return to the rhythm of the earth, to the divine source that’s so much vaster than any human political process.
Let’s not erase the old feelings. Let’s not try to simply “poitiveify” them away. Instead, let’s acknowledge the fear and anger and treat them as what they are: the dead stalk of last season’s growth, now fortifying the next season of growth like so much emotional compost. Let's plant something new. Together.
Now, we can celebrate a new day and a new chapter in the story.
Instead of working against and hunching over in resistance and defense, we can lean into what we want to work for.
Our work - of being anti-racist, anti-ableist, anti-transphobic, anti-homophobic, anti misogynist - is not done. But now we can write the story a new way:
We are for equality, equity, justice, recognition, and repair. We can work for the recovery of the planet, the restoration of democracy, and the health of society.
We can tell a new story… What’s your first line?
Need help uncovering that story that long to tell? I've opened my calendar to add a few more Story Healing sessions in the next few weeks.