Then and Now
Channeling anger into empathy
THEN
A collective numbness
a shift toward instability
and insecurity
discomfort
discontent
dissatisfaction
disillusionment.
All part of a chaotic package
of jumbled thoughts
attributed to an event
which culminated
in an opening
of the floodgates
revealing utter lunacy
blind loyalty
an absurd miscalculation
of conventional wisdom.
Everything a sound bite.
Personal survival
becomes the priority
devoid of humanity
integrity
empathy
common good
right and wrong
all the gray areas in between.
Those who chose to dive into
a disruptive sea of red
sacrificing their souls
chose trust
without verification.
Chose personal
wants over the
needs of others.
Chose the con
the revenge
the hate
the intolerance
the masculine toxicity
the bigotry.
NOW
It has been hard to reconcile
these behaviors.
Lives and life
would be far different
had the choice been
to recognize the
rights of many
over the few.
The choice is to
retrieve energy and
summon persistence.
The choice is to turn
anger into fire
to spark voices and
inspire attention.
Resist.
The choice is to
stir souls that believe
humanity is worth saving.
That integrity is still
relevant.
That empathy
will save us
even if others chose
a different path.
Creating art and writing has saved me once again this past year. I have found solace, joy, and inspiration on the white canvas and the blank page. Piecing together parts of my soul that have needed to surface as I avoid implosion.
Aside from November 9th, 2016, and November 6th, 2024, there have been few times in my life where my heart felt so heavy that I was unsure surviving intact would be possible.
One was the loss of my parents. Each at different times in my life, and each with residual effects that have never dissipated but have softened over time. The other period of time was witnessing my daughter’s struggle with substance use and eventual recovery. The road was unstable, uncomfortable, and eerily dark until her soul resurfaced.
These were events that left me feeling inadequate, helpless, and, for brief periods, hopeless. With each event, I was forced to reflect on who I was becoming and the role I wanted to take going forward. Shifting outside myself and finding empathy was not easy in any of these situations. It involves facing denials of and discontent with typical or traditional coping methods.
These are events filled with gray areas, where one size does not fit all.
What I’ve experienced in the wake of more recent events is anger, despair, and that same kind of hopelessness. But in my stubborn desire to find silver linings, what has emerged from the depths of those emotions is a slow and deliberate sense of purpose. A feminine energy and fire that cannot be put back in the bottle. #HOLDFAST
Thank you, as always, for reading my work. I’m offering discounts on yearly subscriptions until December 31, 2025. If subscribing for free is all you wish to do, I’m grateful.
Image: Shadow Emergence - this work unveils deeper revelations and the emergence of shadows from our past, which rise to the surface unannounced to guide our journey.
Michelle
Fire-breathing + lovely...