Self-strengthening
Day 14. Today’s focus is self-strengthening. As I prepare to head to our Thanksgiving destination, I’m full of anticipation. For some of us it’s not as pleasant a prospect. I’ve got actions for whether you think things will go well, or not so well.
1. If you think things will go well – family of like mind – pick a topic to focus on. Get as well versed as you can today. Print or download some reading for the car, train, or plane on it. I’m reading up on Korematsu, and the NSEERS program instituted in 2001, under which about 10,000 men were deported for overstaying their visas. (The program’s stated purpose, in the wake of 9/11, was to find terrorist sympathizers.) I picked this topic because I’m passionate about preventing it from happening again. I want to calm that passion into focused action. Information will help me build the strength to do this. If you’re following along, pick something similarly meaningful to you to read up on. This is a great time to use the media sources from both sides that I posted about yesterday.
What if you feel like things will not be so easy to talk about? This education route may help you too. I’m white, as is much of my family, and racism is something not every white person can acknowledge. But the need for white people to stand up to racism is pressing. Thankfully Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) has developed a program to help us talk about it. Once again, preparation will help us bring passion into focus.
2. I’m going to exercise tonight. It’s been an exhausting couple of weeks and I’ve been sinking into it. It’s time to take a little better care of myself.
Let me know what you’re doing in the comments if you like.
Vine & Figtree 