The Color of Change

I'm sure I don't have to say what this is about. If you're on my social media, you know how I feel about the murder of George Floyd and all other hate crimes. Here is my latest statement, just in case.

I'm so sick of seeing this in my country, and I'm a white southerner. Just try to imagine how people of color feel. It's 2020 and we're in a senseless race war, encouraged by a fascist government. How in the hell did this happen? I still can't fully wrap my brain around it.

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream account on Twitter follows me. We've talked a little. They have spent years speaking out against systemic racism in this country, and if they suggest a non-profit, I listen.

They've partnered with Color of Change to help fight racial bias, and I wanted to make that known here. I've started following, and I'm paying attention to what's happening in my area. There is a peaceful protest planned on Sunday, and I hope to feel like attending (in a mask, from a distance).

We live in a society, and it is our duty as citizens to call out and extinguish injustice.

Immigration and Refugee Support

I'm going to share a page from Charity Navigator that offers a list of non-profit organizations who are focused on immigrants and refugees.

https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=4665

Anyone who follows me on Twitter knows how I feel about these issues, and they know how I feel about what's currently happening to children and families on the border. I'm not going to elaborate here, as you are plenty informed if you are choosing to pay attention. I am supposed to avoid stress for health reasons, but that has been an impossible dream, especially since this country was taken over by racist, sexist, fascist lunatics. If you support them, you're one of them, and the only hope lies in your eventual eradication. If what's happening to innocent children at this moment doesn't matter to you, your soul is dead. Nothing I say here will change the heart of a monster. 

My opinion is that you either believe in equal human rights, or you're a terrible human. And frankly, I'm tired of being surrounded by terrible humans. I will remain aware, and do what is within my control to stop them.

Living, Learning, Growing

"If you want to kill yourself, kill what you don’t like. I had an old self that I killed. You can kill yourself too, but that doesn’t mean you got to stop living."


— Archie’s Final Project - Dir. David Lee Miller


Great words, and exactly what I’ve been trying to do. As much as I wish it was something that would happen overnight, I've discovered that redefining one's self is a process of revelation, learning, living, grieving, and growing.

It has not been easy, but it has been worth it.

I’ve outgrown my former self in many ways. I still have a long way to go, and I hope I never stop trying to be a better version of me, for the sake of sanity and humanity.

I keep reminding myself that it’s ok to outgrow others, too. I find myself clinging to them, because they’re what I know. But they’re hardly what’s best for me.

I have to do what’s best for me. Even if that means losing the people of my past. Even if that means losing everyone, and starting over.