Yesterday, I was sorely tempted to simply hit “publish” and let the title of this post speak for itself. I am glad that I didn’t.
For while I woke up today with that feeling of being lost again, my eyes aching from last nights tears of disappointment, I remembered another series of mornings, not long ago. When I was staying with my friends in Menton, I would start each day by pulling back the curtains and standing before an open window to face the sea. My gaze would soften as I tried to focus on what was beyond fixation, out to the line and beyond, into unkowing. And how strong that felt to me then, the possibility present, thumping, alive.
My Mother and my Sister are attending their local version of the Women’s March in Ann Arbor, Michigan. My American friend C is training up to Paris from this tiny village to participate. How proud I am and what hope this instills.
For while there is leisure lulling on the beaches (a constant echo back to other times, memories that seem all the richer for their distance), out on the waves, we can make our voices heard. After having lived in France for fifteen years, where the people are not afraid of contestation, I know the power that we yield, still.
There are many facets to Peace.
We can resist, we can write our future in action and response. To find and be found, again and again; awake, as a sea of possibility. With a societal shift that I am quite certain reaches beyond politics, this is our tide now.
I don’t feel at all qualified to be writing this post; I feel awkward and am not sure of what I am doing. The “Who do you think you are?”‘s are rolling through my throat, wishing to stifle thoughts, even half-formed but well-intentioned, into silence…but of course not. We are all qualified just by the nature of our being human and our innate connection with each other…so let’s wade into the waters, even if we are just learning to swim.
Are any of you joining the Women’s March? If you are curious about taking part in this international movement, you can find more information about it here and a listing of locations in the United States and around the globe, here.
So far, it is estimated that there are over two million marches that will occur, including one that is happening in the Vieux Port of Marseille as I type.
This has always been a very respectful community and I don’t wish to make anyone ill at ease but I would love to hear how you are feeling in response to yesterday’s inauguration in the comments below, no matter where you are reading from on our beautiful planet. This concerns us all, as you are already well aware.
Brilliant.
I think that we have to do more than just hold on and I regret not making more of an effort to march too! For me it was financial constraints but how proud I would have been!!!
Thank you so much for the link, Patricia and you rock mightily!
As I do yours, my wonderful friend.
Is the march really about Trump, because it should be about so much more. As an American woman, I feel my privilege just by the happenstance of the location of my birth. If I were to march it would not be for me or my countrywomen for we have so much. So much more than than millions of our sisters on this planet. women who are victims of war, of rape in the name of war, women without clean water or electricity, women who can't feed their children and have no access to medicine, girls who are denied an education or a chance to participate in their own destiny and all the others who eke out an existence. Create light and the darkness will recede, send love to banish anger, let rationality negate chaos.
Hello darkness, my old friend …
Here's my two cents in the form of a short story…
The police kept a close eye on the man in the interrogation room. They all agreed that he looked a bit odd, deranged somehow. His accent, the words he used and his clothes. Everything seemed off but they couldn't quite pinpoint why. "I'm a time traveller," he claimed.
Hours earlier the police had tackled him to the ground. They spotted him in a crowd. He was aiming a pistol at the President. He fought hard.
"You don't understand, I'm here from the future and I know what's going to happen," he yelled in a horse voice as he struggled to break free. "I'm here to save you."
The End
Beautiful photos, Heather! Thank you so much for sharing, and warm greetings from Montreal, Canada. 🙂
Tracy, I have to be honest I feel the same way that you do. I am saddened that so many are spreading fear and hatred. We now live in a country that if you do not agree with whatever the conversation is, than you are wrong, you are ignorant, stupid, fascists, racist, and more. Not everyone who voted or did not vote for Obama 8 years ago thinks he is the greatest president or made the best of his time in DC. As not everyone that voted for Trump thinks he is the greatest. People were shouting from the rooftops that they wanted a change, he is what they picked. I stand by this thought, if you want change work for it. Make a difference in your town, state, local elections. And to quote Tracy above, "regardless of who won or lost the election, if you live in the USA, you win…this is the greatest country the world has ever know….be grateful, be kind and love your neighbor."
Hello Heather,
The colours in your photos are gorgeous – I especially like the authenticity of the photo you took of restaurant on the beach.
As an American living abroad, I unfortunately didn't participate in any of the women's marches, but DEFINITELY would have if I were in my hometown, Chicago — I was touched when I watched them 'march' on the boulevard where I lived for 18 years! Being abroad is not excuse, and I now wish I had taken a train to Berlin or Rome to march.
The political environment is — I don't know what. To simplify it for my simple mind, I keep thinking:
"Here we go — hold on tight." But what I think we'll all get is a good lesson in ethics.