Let’s talk about something we haven’t directly addressed as an issue within itself Under The Chéri Tree: Listening.
The past couple weeks, I observed a few different things:
- Sonya Massey
- Imane Khelif
- Congo
- A massive comment section debate erupting in response to a man talking about his lesson about “shutting up (and listening)” to his wife and not interrupting her, but trying to understand when she’s expressing all her feelings.
As a society, we tend to be…
Reactive.
Defensive.
Angry.
Terrified.
Assuming the worst and quick to punish.
And also…
Numb.
Avoidant.
Unbothered.
Our means of survival is often at odds with our capacity to empathize.
As I’m working on myself, holding myself accountable to building UTCT, and helping others find their “Yielle” as I nourish my own, I thought about how being able to hold space for others is directly connected to being grounded in our own truth. A tree is not easily shaken down just because a different tree is growing nearby. In fact, we know trees to share resources under the earth.
It’s when we’re hungry that we say to a friend in our company, “Hey, do you want to eat?”
Isn’t it when we learn to own our truths, that we are called to bear witness to the truth of others?
When it’s time for us to speak, shouldn’t we be ready to listen as well?
Why do wars take so long to end, when it feels like they begin rapidly and unforgivingly, even the battles we fight in our own minds?
Coming into this new week, I invite you to face fear and shame head-on when it’s time to LISTEN before you react and before you ignore. Listen to what’s being said, watch what’s happening, and listen to the thoughts that pass your mind.
It’s simply a thought right now, but I’m getting the idea that a Yielle missing empathy and honor for truth (even the subjective angularity of truth) is perhaps just another loud expression adding to the noise.
Sending much love,
Chéri
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