Standing Up

What makes you stand up for someone?

In the eighties, my 8th grade social studies class was presented a scenario to consider: While walking at night on a dark city street you see a woman being attacked in an alley. What do you do? My mind knew the answer immediately: You do whatever you can to help. My 8th grade mind imagined yelling for help, or running toward the attacker to distract him so the woman could get away. These ideas were not well-planned, but it was my instinct to want to help. Imagine my surprise when the teacher asked those who were willing to help to raise a hand, and only 7 students, including myself, raised a hand (out of about 20 kids). Maybe the others were still thinking, I thought. What the teacher said next still sticks with me today. “How many people would choose not to get involved?” All of the other students raised their hands. I was shocked. How could this many people not care about a woman being attacked in an alley? Wouldn’t they even take the time to call the police? Some of these kids were my friends, and were they saying they wouldn’t help? Was this really happening, this many people choosing not to get involved? What if that woman was me?

Fast forward to 2020. Teenagers today are surrounded by social injustice. Access to cameras and media are helping us become more connected with some harsh realities. As a response to the murders of George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Philando Castile, Breonna Taylor, Walter Scott, Alton Sterling, Stephon Clark, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, Dion Johnson, Elijah McClain and others, we need to have more conversations about these murders and look for ways to help. My own teens call me out on anything I say that might be interpreted as inappropriate or racist, and for that I am thankful. I do not want to say something that would hurt someone else. Today’s young people respect one another, and we can all take a cue from their leadership. From Gun Safety to Black Lives Matter, I see them standing up for those who need defending, and bravely calling people out. These young, determined Americans have been rallying and protesting with us all the way. We still have a long way to go, but thinking once again about my social studies class from years past, I feel very confident that, in today’s generation of 8th graders, many more would raise a hand to help someone in need.

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“Accept yourself, love yourself, and keep moving forward. If you want to fly, you have to give up what weighs you down. If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep on moving.”

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dragonfly: A symbol of transformation

Yesterday, my husband and son were graced by the presence of this spectacular dragonfly. Lifting it’s perfectly blue body into the air, the alien-like creature uses it’s double wings to take flight. As a spirit animal or totem, the dragonfly is said to carry wisdom of adaptability and transformation. I like to think that one day we could all love and respect each other and treat each other equally, and that this visit from the dragonfly is a good sign. Unfortunately, some of us may have recently lost a loved one, and may be really missing them. Even with the hope/understanding that they have transformed into whatever wonder is next, losing a loved one can leave us looking for peace. While walking outside and connecting with nature, look for signs of hope and change in your world. Use that energy as momentum to create and build new ideas about how you can help yourself and those who are most in need.

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