ROGER WRITES | Be Aware. Be Awake.

Suheir Hammad writes:

Do not be depressed. Depression is a weight we cannot afford to carry right now. There are plans to make, and hopefully, plans to put in action. Why are so many people voting against their best interests in favor of letting fear guide their politics? Fear has won this round. We will need all our resources not to fall to it. There is nothing to be gained from becoming the victim of a weight that is not ours to carry. Breathe - sigh. And get that dirt off your shoulders.

While I am constantly shocked and awed by what a few people are doing with the power they have, I feel like I pretty much know what I’m working with here. We must practice Fortitude. Compassion. We must remember this country has always had a radical tradition of dissent. This will be the legacy we leave. We will be even louder. Write even better. Live even fuller. We will not be bought into a de-habilitating stupor. We will not be medicated beyond awareness. Alongside that fear you are feeling, is an adrenaline rush. We know now, it is the very soul of our planet and collective humanity we are trying to save. Nothing less.

Do not be depressed. Be aware. Be awake. Be resistant. Be your ancestors. Be your future. Be alive. Be alive.

In the first line of her first poem in Mary Oliver's new book she writes, What can I say that I have not said before? So I'll say it again.

So.

What can I say that has not already been said. Do not be depressed. Be aware. Be awake. Be resistant. Be your ancestors. Be your future. Be alive. Be alive. Take this to heart and begin it. Stand up for the things that are important to you. Let go of the things that bog you down. Jump up and down for joy. Give yourself permission to experience unrestrained excitement! Get out your book of gratitude and start your list. It will be long. Write your name at the top of that list.

Get out your scissors, your glue, crayons, paint, brushes, needle & thread and make art. It might be a big blue dot in the center of the page. It might turn out bad. Who cares! Stimulate your creativity in anyway you can. You are worth it. Spend more time believing that.

It's been said before and in many ways. Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" (Mary Oliver). What do you want to remember about your life when the dark shadow comes to your door? You will most likely not wish that you spent more time at the office, worrying about the future, shopping, etc.. The things you want to remember are the times you laughed so hard you almost peed your pants (or maybe you did!), the most amazing sunset that turned the ocean to gold, the days you spent making art with your best friend... You know what I'm saying.  It's been said before.

What turns you on? What makes you come alive? 

Here's the start of my list:

-the color magenta and things that sparkle

-arts & crafts

-thrift store shopping

-lighting candles and listening to music

-hiking in the mountains