So here we are…..President Obama’s inauguration and of this writing, he’s the President of the United States.
It’s a momentous day for all….you can’t help but reflect, ponder, look ahead.
It’s an inspiring day, no question….we have a new President, renewed hope, inspired refueling.
For me, it’s a moment of decision for each one of us too–a moment of our own inauguration.
And not in terms of politics…but in terms of advocacy for our lives, our hearts, our right now moments…the what we believe in, dream in, pine for, the reality we wish to actualize with our own lives.
What will each one of us do differently:
,,, to nurture ourselves?
… to tenderly care for our needs so that we are able to keep pouring forth and out and hold hands with all our neighbors?
….to bring about the change we seek ‘out there’ within ourselves first?
…to break patterns of same old same old that aren’t productive anymore or never were?
What can each of us let go? stop doing? stop thinking, being, saying, feeling?
I’m deeply moved by the spirit of the day. But beyond this, I’m completely certain that unless we care for ourselves …care for our thoughts and actions….take 100% accountability for both, we might not experience the change that we seek or that we’re capable of…
And unless we give ourselves appropriate nurturing and tender support, we too might dry up with apathy, resist progress, pine over what used to be and forget about forging ahead what’s possible FOR OUR NOW, individually and collectively.
For why you may not think your thoughts have anything to do with what can help the economic crisis, I would challenge you to redefine how you consider your own innate, immeasureable worth. To consider every thought as ‘income’ and every decision as an investment.
And while you may not believe you can impact any lasting change for good of the environment, I would invite you to ponder deeply the environment of thought you are establishing in your self concept, your view of yourself and of others. Any contaminating, degrading thoughts there? Can you root them out? Should you?
And while you may not think you have any say in equal rights or how people are treated, take stock of your view of yourself. Are you equating your worth with accomplishments and status or with the very fact of your unique individuality?
And if you feel you have nothing to do with resolving any other crisis, I would offer this: handle every crisis within and without your own atmosphere—whether at home, at work, at school, in every single relationship, and in the most important place: in your own consciousness.
Every global crisis is such a reflection of humanity’s thoughts at any one moment.
And yep, we’ve elected someone we trust will carry us through much.
But who’s responsible for carrying you through your immediate situation? How can your own perspective be the solution?
Celine Dion back in the early 90s sang what became a great hit: Love can move mountains.
I’ve seen love in action time and again melt the thickest walls of hatred, apathy, and hardened hearts. And while there’s so much more I can do to ensure I’m fulfilling my part, I can not help but put my trust in that sense of love that doesn’t shun, ridicule, attack, or violently oppose….that seeks to understand instead of change minds…that yearns to build a bridge even when so many superficial differences would span a gap, and most importantly that seeks to nurture the who I am within…who we each are.
If you take a blank sheet of paper and write down all the labels you’re identified as: daughter, son, mother, father, CEO, VP, assistant, clerk, driver, teacher, brother, sister, boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse, winner of x, y, z award, drop out, drug addict, homeless, this credential, that degree, this almamater, that alum, whatever….if you take away all those labels you are you and I am I.
There was a poem I used to read as a kid hanging in the bathroom of my grandparents’ home. It went something like this “I am not in this world to live up to your expectations and you are not in this world to live up to mine. You are you. I am I. And if by chance we meet, it’s beautiful.”
(anyone know the origin of that poem?).
I loved the spirit of that poem. It’s a take care of yourself…..and yet it invites the beauty of the possibilities that arise when our lives embrace one another.
So party on, celebrate the inauguration and think deeply over what more you can do to take care of your own thoughts and project outwardly more unselved love….more forgiveness, more tolerance, more patience, more compassion, more peace….because you first give it to yourself.
Happy Inaugural Day to us all! 🙂
As always I welcome your comments, questions, and insights.
Til next post, be well and much peace, hope, love to you all.
Tre 😉