Reminding us of our roots

Sometimes we forget our roots.

Sometimes maybe we don’t forget them, but our focus diverges for a while.

Sometimes we hold two truths and only talk about one to the point that others may not even be aware of the other truth(s) we hold.

We are each responsible for how we react to situations, how we relate with others, the harm we personally perpetuate.

We also live within systems and cultures that perpetuate harm.

It is vital we do our own inner work to mitigate the harm we cause and do the accountability work when we inevitably cause harm.

It is equally vital we are doing our work in the outer world to both break down systems of harm and build new systems and communities of nurturance, individual autonomy, and collective inter-dependence.

Both at once.

This does not mean we are responsible for “healing” or forgiving our personal abusers. Not ever. We do not need to be witness to their work or growth nor do we need to “help” them in that. That is their work not ours.

The same is true of those w…