nursingforsocialjustice

This is a strange place that you and I are in, where some of us are trying desperately to hang on to an idea of the middle class that was built in a post World War II era, and some of us are trying to convince the rest of us that it is still possible despite everything that we know now. It seems strange that this moment that we are in, with economies sustained by consuming things that are also slowing leading to our decline, is like a prophetic sci-fi novel from the last century. Everyday I think, wouldn’t it be interesting if we all thought we could kind and compassion our way out of this? If we could all collaborate and connect our way to a better future? Instead of criticizing and hating our way out of it?

How can we continue to dream our American Dream as the deafening scream of social injustice resonates around the globe?

I cling to this hope that we will shift, that surely this cannot be a worse historical moment than the WWII era they my father had to escape from…surely it cannot. We know so many things, and can communicate so broadly with so many people. I don’t understand why we need horrific conflict and destruction to move forward a civilization…do we? It’s strange this pursuit of happiness that some of us have the privilege to pursue, to aspire to, to achieve? Maybe it’s just this Time of year that inspires my deep self-reflection about things that I seek to have so little agency in changing. Or maybe I’m just exhausted.

This was the hardest year of my life, by a million. It scares me that there is a possibility that it’s not all downhill from here, it might a a lot more uphill climbs. Do you ever feel like the path of least resistance is the better path…because it might be the easier one?

How do you refresh when feel like you have given all that you have got?

Peace,

Michelle D.