June Events
As a life coach, and someone who rarely sits on the fence (no splinters in the bum over here) friends and clients have been asking my perspective on the last couple of months and to be honest at times I have been lost for words. The last couple of weeks have been spent in deep reflection trying to make sense of it all.
Of course, we have had lockdown to contend with and all the changes that presented us with. Then the shocking media surrounding the racist murder of George Floyd and then the BLM movement. Its been an incredibly powerful and unsettling time for anyone sensitive and aware enough to feel moved by it all.
Despite the very real health issues that covid presented, its also been quite sustaining and life affirming to watch the selflessness individuals have demonstrated in raising money, keeping each other safe by staying away and of course our NHS and all the other key workers that society simply could not have done without. These acts of heroism gave us hope, we propped one another up, we looked for silver linings. The blitz spirit and demonstration of community compassion really did give me hope that we truly were advancing as humans, perhaps even creating a new world once we emerge from this bizarre time.
However, then there have been truly shocking moments in recent weeks that remind me how far we still have to go. To be honest, hearing some of the stories, my heart has broken more than once and I felt powerless and lost. As a white woman of privilege, I asked myself, did I have a right to feel this way? And then more importantly, if I feel this triggered, then how must it feel for the black community? Not just over the last few weeks, but daily? Sadly the media coverage we are all waking up to is nothing new for them.
As demonstrated by millions of protestors we are tired, we are angry, and we desperately want change. In recent weeks we have witnessed conflict, desperate action, power, compassion and love, but most importantly we have started to see awareness – the world is finally waking up to a very real and very present crisis that has long been ignored.
After the events of 2020, the world will never feel the same and we are all forever changed by these events. Personally, I believe this to be a good thing because in order to evoke real change and harmony we must also think as we never have done before. It was time for a shake up and it was time to get very very real.
While I admire and support everyone’s choice and demonstration that people have taken in their #blackouttuesday post, or the protests they have attended, or the book list they have advertised. How do we absolutely make sure that this change is ever lasting? The answer is, we have to do more than the above. Quite simply, like all valid and worthy achievements we have to do the work – not just for a season but for a lifetime. Talk is cheap and hope is a beautiful concept, but hope is not enough – the world needs true heroic unwavering action and demonstration. We must do the work in order to change our future and the future of our children.
I challenge each and everyone of you to educate yourself to the best of your ability, explore your mindset, change your perspective, and extend your generosity. Racism should not even be up for debate; this should not be a difficult change.
Educate your children, teach them black history, support your black friends, and keep having conversations (if they are uncomfortable then chances are you should absolutely be having them). If you have your own business, look at what changes you can make in support of equality. Keep your education current by finding black voices on social media that you trust and feel connected to. Check out Jane Elliot, Vean_Ima, and Cleo Wade . . .
This is not an easy subject and it is a complex issue for so many, but the first thing we must all do is look inwards. Give yourself permission to feel overwhelmed at times, to feel anxious, to feel afraid. Allow yourself to be vulnerable, demonstrate a willingness to learn – I’ve realised in my reflection that it is actually ok to not have all the answers, but we must keep talking human to human regardless of the colour of our skin, our social backgrounds, our ages or sexual orientations. Just simply human to human. These are all important steps to take when we tackle something far bigger than ourselves, but together we can do it.