I see you. Now, I need you to see me… November 2020

I see you. Now, I need you to see me…

In my meditation today, I was feeling all kinds of random things. A cluttered mind plagued by jet-lagged sleeplessness. Two things keep distracting me. I heard a song of my youth “Shake the Disease” by Depeche Mode. I kept thinking of the story of Hope that was at the very bottom of Pandora’s Box. This is how things sometimes come to me. In songs and symbols. So bear with me, this might get a bit random. Yet I have a feeling you will “understand me.”

The part of the song in my head is this:

I’m not going down on my knees,

Begging you to adore me

Can’t you see it’s misery

And torture for me

When I’m misunderstood

Try as hard as you can, I’ve tried as hard as I could

To make you see

How important it is for me

Here is a plea

From my heart to you

Nobody knows me

As well as you do

You know how hard it is for me

To shake the disease

That takes hold of my tongue

In situations like these

Understand me… Understand me

There is an electric feeling in the air due to recent electoral celebrations. People all over the US took to the streets to raise their voices in unison, joy and praise. A celebration of hope. A roar for normalcy. A cry towards peace. A time to Shake the Dis-Ease.

In places like NYC, it’s a powerful feeling to experience such a connection. Especially considering what 2020 has given to the world. We have constantly been called to come together to claim what is right; to know what matters, and to honor those who are essential.

Now, according to the Greek myth, Pandora was the first woman on Earth, created by Zeus. All the Gods gave her the things she would need to succeed (or fail). Graced with talent, brains, beauty, and eloquence, she had it all. Pandora was given a box: a gift which contained all the evils, illnesses and hardships of the world. She was also ordered not to open it. And as such things go… being stubborn, her curiosity got the best of her…. she lifted the lid. And boom, the entire box spilled out into the World…. You can imagine the drama.

There are lots of versions of this legend, so I’ll let you look it up.

Pandora has gotten me to thinking of how we all have been brought to a helpless situation. A place where ultimately there are no winners and we have very little control. I know we are not the ones who opened the box originally. Yet aren’t we helping to keep the monsters, hardships, and illnesess that come forth from the box?

There is a huge amount of people who are deeply afraid of change. Profoundly paralyzed by the unknown. Those who may not have the understanding that the lid has been lifted, and (mixing metaphors here… I know) the cat is out of the bag.

It’s terrifying, but we all have to keep moving. Sometimes the best way OUT is THROUGH. Sometimes we have to look closely through the darkness into the bottom of the box. There you will find HOPE which, it turns out, is what Pandora found. Her box was not totally empty– at the very bottom was HOPE.

In unprecedented times such as these, it is important to use your heart, mind, and energy to embrace the inner knowing. Tap into that part of you which knows compassion. That place within you, where change can and will occur.

It’s time we reach out to the people in our networks of family of birth, and family of choice, and let them know that we see them. We also can remember that we are surrounded by beautiful people who can also see us and WANT to help. They just need to know that you are open to receiving help.

Through personal acceptance, a balanced perspective will reveal the truth. The truth leads to solutions. Solutions such as putting the lid back on that box with some glue.

There are people who are feeling tortured because they think they are lost. We have to find it within ourselves to remember we are all ONE. Children of the universe.

Humans BEing.

Take a moment and lend a helping hand. Most miscommunication or disagreements go away when everyone feels heard. A dash of validation creates deeper acceptance. A tiny bit of compassion, patience, listening, and companionship…. goes a long way.

Back to the song.

We have had so much hitting us all at once. You might think that everyone knows what you are going through.

How could they not?

Here is the thing. We are ALL going through something. Now more than ever. Take a breath. Do your best to communicate where you are at this moment. Be even better at listening to where other people are at this moment.

Together we can Shake the Dis-ease

Together we can understand each other

That is who I am going to be.

Join me

LOVE your way

Create a beautiful day

T