Remember Why You're Here
Holding yourself dear is a fierce act of resistance
According to legend, during the Vietnam war, life-long pacifist A.J. Muste stood in front of the White House with a single candle night after night, rain or shine. It was a one-person protest, conducted near the end of his life.
One rainy night, a reporter asked him, “Do you really think you are going to change the policies of this country by standing out here alone at night with a candle?”
“Oh,” Muste replied, “I don’t do it to change the country, I do it so the country won’t change me.”
“This, my dear, is the greatest challenge to being alive. To witness injustice in the world and not allow it to consume our light.” - Thich Nhat Hanh
In that spirit, we should make an effort to make sure the battles we fight don’t sour our vision, harden our heart, or change who we are. Take some time this long weekend of remembrance to remember why you’re here.
Remember why you’re in this fight. It’s not to destroy an opposing force, it’s to build a better world. Let our work be born from and live in positivity.
Remember those who came before you. We are but a mere portion of this path. We did not start this journey, and we will not be the last ones here. Look to the amazing movement elders and seasoned activists, study history, and enter each action wondering what you might not know. Be open to learning.
Remember you are not alone. It is not your job to fix every injustice. Do your best to leave things better than you found them. Be kind. Find joy. Allow time to enjoy the world we’re building.
Remember the parts of yourself that you love. There’s likely more than you would admit aloud. You are kind, compassionate, brave, and strong. You live in a world on fire and choose not to hide, but to be a firefighter. Try this positive self-talk exercise. Practicing good self-talk is not only helpful to you and your stress levels, it will give you more energy and joy for the movement you love.
Remember that you too are worthy of the care and compassion you seek for others. And in that spirit, we share this Mindful Moment with you from mindfulness teacher and expert, Sharon Salzberg. We hope you will find this guided loving-kindness meditation helpful. May you be safe, be happy, be healthy, live with ease.
As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
- John F. Kennedy on Memorial Day
The fourth Monday in May is Memorial Day. In observance of the holiday, we will not be holding a workshop on that day. We encourage you to find a moment of peace in the long weekend. We will back with you on June 23. Look for details soon.
Thank you for all you are doing for this country and for your communities.