Wednesday, January 25, 2017

FOR MY WHITE FRIENDS, AND THEIR WHITE FRIENDS

I posted this on two social media outlets, and the Knife suggested that I post it here, too.

CN: cookies

MY FELLOW WHITE PEOPLE - Specifically, to those who are scared for the first time and are just now getting to the party that our indigenous and POC siblings have been at for over a millennia...(yes, really, over 1000 years. Europeans started colonizing the Americas as early 1000).

I see you.

I see that you finally understand that there is something for you to "get."

I see you working to get caught up on how not to be a shitty white person.

I see you showing up to a march that was peaceful, not because our cause is righteous, but because so many of us are white.

I see that you are discouraged, not prepared for the anguish and rage of our indigenous and POC siblings, demanding to know where you have been. Their feelings are valid. They have been fighting this fight for CENTURIES, without our help, without our support.

Please press on through your feelings of hurt/anger/confusion/discomfort at our white perception of how unfair it all is because while we might be late, at least we're here. These feelings are a part of our white fragility.

Please sit and feel your feelings of discomfort. It is a first step to acknowledging your white privilege.

Please be quiet and listen and witness the the feelings our indigenous and POC siblings share with us. Their feelings are valid. We need to hear and accept their truth.

And when you need a cookie, come find me, a fellow white person. I will give you a cookie. I am walking this path. I know that it is hard. I also know that it is worthwhile. There will come a time when you won't need cookies any longer; you'll just get to work.

And when you need to shed your white tears, come find me, a fellow white person. You can cry on my shoulder. I am walking this path. I know that it is hard. I also know that it is worthwhile. There will come a time when you won't shed them any longer; you'll just get to work.

And when you feel overwhelmed at the enormity of this work, come find me, a fellow white person. I will walk with you. I am walking this path. I know that it is hard. I also know that it is worthwhile. There will come a time when you will realize this is a life-long path and it will not intimidate you; you'll just get to work.

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

#cutegrosslove4ever

My dearest love, my sweetest friend, my rugged lover...you accept so much with grace and kindness. Your faith in our love is steady, steadfast.

We inhabit a garden, nearby to each other, growing together. Our love like the magic synergy of complimentary plantings, becoming more than our two parts.

I love you.

Monday, January 2, 2017

New Horizons.

I might not have been doing it here, but anyone who knows me IRL knows that I hate working where I work. After eight years of working in production based claims handling, I am at my wits end.

Back in late October, early November, I enrolled in the local community college's applied science degree for computer programming. I obtained my financial aid and I start tomorrow with 2 classes.

I am not sure what has changed, I just woke up and felt like I needed to "do" despite my emotional baggage.

When I moved up north from the Portland Metro Area, I transferred with my employer. I bought myself enough time to make a decision regarding my career choice. Would I continue or would I shake things up and start off on a new path?

In my personal life, I have spent the last 2 years shoring up my relationship with my immediate family: Bad Boi, Baby Femme, and the Wee One. It feels solid. I know that we are united as a family, even if it is not the way I imagined I would make my family.

So this new year brings launching pad I have needed, both mentally and physically, to jump off into new waters. I'm glad I know how to swim.