In Dr. King’s book, Strength to Love, he wrote “The strong man holds in a living being strongly marked opposites.” I strongly feel that his quote speaks to the duality that exits within each of us. To accurately establish a true sense of self, one must encounter opposing forces, or opposites. That way we can identify with clarity who we are, and who we are not. The duality that resides within each of us can be categorized in different ways. I choose to label them as good or bad.
We confront what feels bad in new environments, new situations, roads travelled throughout our lives, or just what we do on a daily basis. We get to choose who, how, when, why, and what we learn. Our decisions inform whether we choose good or bad. To travel though life, is to embrace opposites. To live life, we must embrace opposites. Sometimes at night when I cannot fall asleep, I listen to Dr. King’s speeches. I choose to learn from him in those moments about human reality. Not only did he identify our societal problems, he developed and shared strategies to better humankind. Had he been alive today, we would have elected him president. Why? Because he was reasonable and respected every living person. He inspired us to endeavor toward equality. He made us act, and he knew how. Now we use his strategies against causes of good. I see a country becoming bad. I see a country crumbling to pieces, because of over-reactionary tactics caused by the first black president. Think about the many changes that have occurred since his presidency ended? Many of them are discriminatory toward someone or another, depending on the day. Recently, I walked down a street in San Francisco and saw a person hit a crack pipe, a boy stick a needle in his girlfriend’s arm, and multiple people walking around with a meth addiction. This was on my way to the Women’s March in broad daylight. If the argument for the wall is drugs, why is prevention more important than treatment? Why is prevention more important than treatments? Is it really more complicated than that when we are talking about human lives? Do we not want parents who are clean and sober raising kids rather than perpetuating the cycle of addiction? Do not forget the duality: nature v. nurture. I don’t think that our government is identifying, vocalizing, or even exploring alternative solutions. I think that Dr. King would be ashamed of them. “Courage is an inner resolution to go forward in spite of obstacles and frightening situations.” “Fear is mastered through love.” “Hate is rooted in fear, and the only cure for fear-hate is love.” Those are only a few of Dr. King’s quotes. I know for my job I am required to study and allow space for learning. I am only as good as my willingness to listen and learn from others. We all have egos. However, we also have the to ability to silence all the noise our egos make. How? Through love. Many Blessings on Dr. King’s Day.
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Acceptance… what a beautiful process that transforms how one sees, feels, and receives the world.
Acceptance is the path I chose to take this year, 2019. I accept me. I accept my flaws, eccentricities, limits, and qualities. I accept that I am more than the sum of my mistakes, and especially my flaws. I accept that I am intelligent, which is driven by my thirst for knowledge. I accept that I still have a lot to learn. I accept growing pains. I accept that I am not perfect. I also accept the fact that no one is perfect. I accept that I do not have to like everybody, nor do I want to. I accept that. I accept that I live in a competitive world. I accept that I am the only person I ever compete with. I accept that I am a very fierce competitor. I accept that I place too much pressure on myself, which causes me anxiety. I accept that I have anxiety. I accept that some days are worse than others, but whether I’m actively aware of it or not, I accept that I have anxiety. I accept that I need treatment. I accept that I need my friends, and quite honestly, they are the best form of treatment. I accept that I had severe depression twice in my life. I accept that I will never get that depressed again, not ever. I accept that there are no such things as vampires, werewolves, zombies, or pretend monsters that go bump in the night. I accept that theoretically speaking, the inspiration for these imaginary creatures can be found in an everyday. Mosquitos, rabies, and wolves are all real and I accept that. I accept that I had trauma, and I accept that I overcame it. I accept that I have scars. I accept that I am more than the sum of my emotional battles. I accept that I am stronger because of them. I accept that I am one of many ugly ducklings that became a swan. I accept that I am different. I accept that I am self-conscious, and I lack confidence. I accept that. I accept that most people expect me to be less than smart based on my appearance. I accept that. I also accept that although my physical form has altered, what is on the inside never changed. I accept that I was and am a nerd, before I became a swan. I accept that I am smarter than I look. I accept that I am a combination of Italian and American, which influences how I breathe the air. I accept that my grandma is 100, and that I miss her. I accept that I am always missing someone. I accept that. I accept that I am a professor, social worker, writer, psychotherapist, and researcher. I accept that this is a lot for one person. I accept that I never have enough time to just write. I accept that I am a writer. I accept that I have a lot of responsibilities. I accept all of that. I accept that I have problems. I also accept that I have solutions. I accept that I am love. I accept that I am safe and able to invite in love. I accept that love is infinite. I accept self-love. Recently I was given a card from a deck of positive affirmations that said, “One day she woke up and realized she was enough.” When people accept who they are, they obtain the ability to face fears, overcome obstacles, and enjoy life. I accept all of you. One I hope everybody, including the people that read this blog, come to the realization...."I am enough. I accept me." I accept me. Acceptance… what a beautiful process that transforms how one sees, feels, and receives the world. |
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