S.T.A.N.D.

A bit over a week ago, I was honored to go on a coming of age get away trip to California for young person turning 13. He chose some adults in his life to be a part of the trip and told his dad that I was someone he respected and wanted me to be a part of it. Humbling right? So as I prepared to be a part of this I wondered what I might gift him, as is custom for such an event. Because this young person had gifted Jodi and I a desert painting and is such an aspiring artist, I thought I could give him something from my creative space so I wrote him an acrostic. I read this outloud at the ceremony we had for him on the beach and presented it to him there. I have been reflecting on the words in it and thought right now might be a good time to share it with all of you readers. I have been heartbroken over the past week with some of things going on (what’s new!?) and I continue to see how people treat others in such harsh ways. I keep saying, come on America, we are better than this! I think perhaps part of that was my naiveity and that we have always been so cruel but I feel like people are getting knocked down over and over lately and I thought this might give you some hope for better days ahead.

STAND

Start everything you do with love. Be conscious about it, make every effort to show it and receive it.

Take the temperature of every room.  Be patient and let things come to you. They will, I promise.

Accept that you will fall. If you know it, the pain will be more bearable.

Negotiate your rising. Learn to get up from the fall when you are ready not when everyone tells you to.

Draw, draw with your pencil, draw every breath deeply, draw on the wisdom of your journey and draw on the well of friendships along the way.