Summer

It is summer here and the days feel endless. We just passed through the gate of the solstice and contained within these long summer days is the seed of winter as each day is moments shorter than the last. During my morning meditation, the silence is filled with the movements and liveliness of nature - the birds, the creek, the wind, my mind and my emotions. Once I finish meditating, I often do a bit of weed whacking as the grass grows and grows. The grass teaches me that everything alive (including me and you) is always changing - that we all have periods of growth and periods of dormancy. It seems clear to me that individually and collectively we are in a period that has incredible potential for transformation. This is not easy or clear right now as we wade through the intensity of 'normal' life being upended. I keep hearing people around me say, "others have it worse than I do right now." This very well may be true - you may have the privilege of having white skin, good health, being able to work from home, or having enough money saved - and even so the intensity is real and is an urgent call to greater compassion for both self and others. Acknowledging your own difficulty with care does not diminish the difficulties of others. It instead allows you to move forward with just a little bit more ease and capacity. Rather than getting lost in guilt for not having it so bad, educate yourself on race, donate money, practice mindfulness, go to protests, reach out to others around you, do yoga, or become a vegetarian. Reflect on what is important to you and align your actions with your values. Consider what is important to you today, what you have learned from being at home and slowing down (for those of you that have been able to slow down) and make what changes that you can in this moment. Right now. The intensity around you and inside of you is a call for greater self tending so that we can meet this moment with all of the grace and courage available to us as humans. You don't have to change the world because it is already changing.  You just have to meet this moment, this breath with awareness and kindness.