Time- Part 2
Another day of practicing slowing down.
By: Mary B.
One of my priorities is to spend more time reading the books I was not introduced to when I was younger, and to seek out the voices of authors, artists, philosophers, and revolutionaries for their ideas & solutions to ongoing struggles. It can feel overwhelming to see all the harm endured throughout history and presently across the globe; to not feel like anything can change; to feel too far removed from the problem or too small; like the only thing I can do is read more and learn more to have more conversations. But it’s not enough to just understand “why” things are the way they are without further exploring how to improve it; or to appreciate what individuals and groups have done to spur change in the past. We have no choice but to continue pushing for progress, equality, justice, democracy, and pursuit of happiness for all. We can be better, and the answers for how to do that are scattered across the shelves of libraries, instagram posts, newsletters, posters, letters, photographs, songs, and more. The archives and ongoing records of compassionate, intelligent, inspiring individuals exist as bricks to be laid on our path forward. We owe it to eachother to study what others have learned in their lifetimes, to build on that; and we owe it to ourselves to understand how to effectively & efficiently create necessary change as to not spin our wheels and burn out before we can witness progress.
That said, here are a few passages from the first book that was on my reserved list for the public library, “The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-First Century”, by Grace Lee Boggs, a Chinese American author, social activist, philosopher, and feminist who lived in Detroit, MI for most of her life. This book was written when she was NINETY-FIVE years old. Truly a gift. She lived to be 100 years old, living through so many historical events. Her existence on this planet from June 27, 1915 to October 5, 2015 was rich with experience and her insight demands our attention. The book has been a quick and engaging read so far. Last night, these sections really stuck with me:
“Instead of viewing the U.S. people as masses to be mobilized in increasingly aggressive struggles for higher wages, better jobs, or guaranteed healthcare, we must have the courage to challenge ourselves to engage in activities that build a new and better world by improving the physical, psychological, political, and spiritual health of ourselves, our families, our communities, our cities, our world, and our planet.”
… “and concentrate .. on projecting and initiating struggles that involve people at the grassroots in assuming the responsibility for creating the new values, truths, infrastructures, and institutions that are necessary to build and govern a new society.”
“Activists transform and empower themselves when they struggle to change their reality by exploring, in theory and practice, the potentially revolutionary social forces of WORK, EDUCATION, COMMUNITY, CITIZENSHIP, PATRIOTISM, HEALTH, JUSTICE, and DEMOCRACY.”
All I have time for right now. But my practice for slowing down will continue despite a demanding schedule.
