Norms and Empathy
The take away, or impact, that I have of this first gear up has been that we aim to do good here. On that subject, I thought that we do not all have the same definition of good. However, we are connected and that connection gives us languages not limited by spoken words to relate to each other. In accepting and yielding, to that connection we better our awareness of the forms of self found inside and out in the world.
In adrian maree brown's poem (she doesn't capitialize her name so neither will I) I felt this impact. The proceeding state was a familiar pairing: feeling gratitude, while thinking on the great fortune of having positive growth in a time like this.
Intersectionality
What I'm left thinking about today in image is the video from Girls Who Code, and a feeling parallel to that of the Norms and Empathy Gear Up. I feel vulnerable, open and quiet. I'm thinking about the idea of 'Is it enough?' Is it enough to motivate me to be my best self, to listen to others and find a relevance in every perspective without marginalizing. Is it enough to help the world move forward to equity amongst all people? What would acting on the feeling I have look like?
In the past several years I have been experimenting with modalities of social sculpture in the arts, which was a big inspiration for my getting into software development. In my early development too, I was lucky enough to be encouraged to experiment and explore my means of self expression. I was also given opportunities and resources for that exploration by my parents. Both personally and professionally I plan to develop means to create opportunities for interaction, opportunity and empowerment of all people in the way I was offered.
In the future I hope for, I'm able to do this and others around me with the same priviledge that I have had are similarly inspired. The result being that all voices are heard listened to and cared for by all. This would in turn develop new insights from those previously oppressed and without voice. These insights offering the world the generative ideas to resolve as a species to care for the planet and all variation in the same way we do for all of each other. It is a future where we all can face the pains and struggles of life, because we all know that we are not alone and we do matter.
Racial Caucusing
Today I'm left thinking about the world. In preparation for the Gear Up today I watched a documentary on Palestinian musicians and the world they live in. In the country that is now globally recognized as Israel, their home, some of their freedom to move is restricted to the confines of a walled state. I'm thinking of the similarities and differences of this country. How in Wisconsin the walls are ideological, just as real, albeit more subtle. I wonder how I can aid in the destruction of these walls. I recognize that the climate I was raised in put me in a place of privilege and that still I wanted to be on the other side. I didn't want to be offered health, wealth and opportunity but I took them. I wanted struggle and suffering, to be outcast and oppressed and to rebel. I wanted all of these things, that being my true privilege: to choose.
Living in years and ideals has revealed this to me: I'm better off taking care of myself. In this I can equalize the distribution of privilege. Today's Gear Up has revealed to me a white caucus and reactions to the subject of race in our world today. In the caucus and our cohort retrospective I heard reactions of anxiety, anger, confusion. I myself recognized how unused to and uncomfortable I felt in such a discussion. I recognized how much room I have to grow in my awareness of myself and my views of race. I now know what I plan to use my privilege of choice for: to choose discomfort. It's the discomfort of exercising for greater health, not for my body but for our society.
Rather than a comfort zone for myself, isolated, the future I hope for is one where we challenge ourselves. It's a future where we don't wait for the moment of discomfort to pass, or where we avoid pain and sadness. I can see us accept it, to look at and empathize with each other and care for and support each other. We'll recognize our own limits and each others, and support and uplift each other. I'm writing 'we' by which I mean the one I'm thinking of: the world.