we cannot expect life to feel whole
without accepting the parts of life that ache


our pain deserves
our genuine, loving, personal witness,
the witness of a trusted other,
and the witness of a trusted community


the past, present and future
are informed
by our choices,
stories,
and perceptions of ourselves


these things can change, moment to moment
and they hold immense information
about the reality we experience
and CAN experience.


change does not have to be
from an incredible event in life,
an adrenaline rush,
or a grand proclamation


big changes are the result of small shifts
in thought
in heart
in conversation


they are in choosing to question an assumption
about life
about relationships
about truth


the biggest problems we see in our world
can only be addressed
if we have the courage to question them
with those we hold close


without the daring act of sitting in discomfort
the systems which keep us stuck in
suffering and ignorance
continue to hold power


there is no escaping the turmoil of
our selves.


to see the suffering of another
truly
with empathy
requires us to see
the ways WE feel
trapped,
tired,
isolated,
and confused.


cultivating empathy
requires us to see our own harm
fully,
honestly,
and without judgment.


the world i see is not split into good people
and bad people


our capacity for harming others lives partly in our willingness to harm ourselves.


every human is deserving of
dignity, respect, rest,
nourishment, love, desire,
and a vibrant life.


in what ways are we not offering ourselves the same?