This is a self and world changing podcast by Brene Brown and Sonya Renee Taylor " The Body is not an Apology." If we could get this, the rest would fall into place.
https://brenebrown.com/podcast/brene-with-sonya-renee-taylor-on-the-body-is-not-an-apology/
I will first write about this quote.
There was a quote that moved about on Social Media, that was credited by Brene Brown, when it was actually Sonya Renee Taylor's.
This idea is very thought producing. Not only as the whole of the US society, but of our individual lives.
What I love about this idea is that what we have called normal, is often way off the mark.
It may have been normal for our families; but that doesn't mean that it was normal.
She is speaking about society at large; and yet the society is made up of individuals and individual families.
Each of us has the opportunity to stitch a new garment; "One that fits all of humanity and nature."
In my life, I was raised in a fundamental religion in a dysfunctional home. It was normal for me.
When I became aware of this - I knew that there needed to be many changes in my life, to reach close to normal.
What I also thought of, as some in our society are wanting less governing, less policing etc. We are now discovering the dysfunction of our system. It is a time for more boundaries not less.
As I became aware of dysfunctional systems in play in my own life, I didn't want less restrictions, I wanted more.
I needed to create ways to rid my life of the things that were hurtful, disrespectful and those who felt they could do whatever they wanted to me.
I had to have a stricter policing of my life - not toss it all out.
To me, it would make more sense if the police policed each other. If they stood up for stronger standards within their individual forces.
And yet, we as people - fail to do this in our own lives; for a variety of reasons. Yet we fail.
I lived in a family, where the two highest positions were not able to police themselves, in a manner that would keep children safe. We needed a stronger policing force - someone who could see the dysfunction - and who would hold my parent's accountable.
In my own life, when I discovered my own abuse - and the systems I believed in where the abuse was allowed to flourish, I had to rethink and look closely at all I believed in. And, I had to set new boundaries IN order to make it harder for an abuser to abuse.
I am not even certain I can get others to see what an opportunity we now have to change our societal tone. How it will be up to each of us, to clean, if you will, our own lives. What do you stand for, who do you have power over and why? How is equality divided up in your worlds?
It is easy to sit and look "out there" and see all the injustices going on.
It is much harder to sit and see where you are unjust in your own world.
Who do you put higher on the ladder and who is lower?
We ask police systems to police their own. When there are many of us who cannot police their own lives.
How many allow bad behavior within their circles. Who forgive, and forget. Who lower the standards for family - etc. Accept, and even respect elders; for age sake, turning a blind eye to their poor behaviors.
And, even more - how well do we police our own self.
How much negative energies do you allow around you.
How much negative behavior do you dish out.
It is so easy to sit and be an armchair expert on society - but it takes deep commitment to clean up your own lives, body and spirit.
The self-cleaning that I had to do, began with me.
Back to the podcast that is on this post. I highly highly recommend listening to it and seeing how the ladder concept has influenced your world. How you view yourself and your status in the world matters.
Mostly, how you love who you are and how you see yourself on the ladder we call life.