Weekly Hug: Special Edition
At its core, Life Wants to Live is meant to be a source of comfort during this difficult time. The Weekly Virtual Hug is designed to reach out you with warm, open arms to bring a little kindness and love into your world.
But kindness, love and comfort aren’t always compatible. Sometimes, acts of true kindness and love require being uncomfortable.
Our nation is in pain. Some are experiencing the pain of losing jobs and loved ones because of the pandemic. For many, the pain brought on by the coronavirus only compounds the ongoing pain of racism and discrimination.
We hope, out of kindness and love, that you don’t shut all of this pain out. Even in the midst of everything we are going through, it’s important for each of us to acknowledge the deep and constant pain of racism, and that every single one of us must be part of the healing.
This is a special edition of the Weekly Hug. May it embrace you with the inspiration and empathy with which it is intended.
Lots of love,
The Life Wants to Live Team
Contact Us
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"'I see no color' is not the goal.
'I see your color and I honor you. I value your input. I will be educated about your lived experiences. I will work against the racism that harms you. You are beautiful. Tell me how to do better.'
... That’s the goal."
~Carlos A. Rodríguez
@CarlosHappyNPO
How to Help
Joining a protest shows support and is important for democracy. Of course, we are still in the midst of a pandemic, so it’s important to be safe, too. Here are some tips and ideas from WA Dept. of Health: Risking your health to fight racism (Thank you!)
From The Cut: How to Support the Struggle Against Police Brutality
From Dazed Digital: How to Be an Ally in Light of George Floyd’s Murder
As Amélie Lamont explains on the website Guide to Allyship, “being an ally doesn’t necessarily mean you fully understand what it feels like to be oppressed. It means you are taking on the struggle as your own.”
Some Light in the Darkness
Most Hopeful and Uplifting Moments from Protests Following George Floyd’s Death
A Look at Police Brutality through Dance
Donald Byrd, Artistic Director of Spectrum Dance Theater, sent an email recently with a link to SHOT which premiered on January 19, 2017, at the Leo K. Theatre in Seattle. In the email, he laid out the following questions:
“In an effort to ENGAGE you and be ENGAGED with you, we are asking that before you view SHOT you ask yourself the following questions, then again after the viewing:
What are you DOING to move the needle forward toward racial equality?
What are you DOING to dismantle racism and White supremacy?
Do you think you need to DO something?
If you think you are already DOING, do you think that is enough?
Do you want to begin to DO or DO more to end the violence directed towards Black and Brown people?
Do not take these questions as a way to make you feel guilty or to shame you. That is not their intention. Think of them as tools for you to begin to measure where you are and how you might move into ACTION. We need you to share in the heavy lifting of this demolition project.”