In the song Some Nights, by the band Fun, the lyrics beg us to question “What do I stand for? What do I stand for?  Most nights, I don’t know…anymore.”  This song awakens me, brings tears to my eyes, and when I hear it, it calls me to action.  It is the beat of activism.  I have felt, at times, that Some Nights has been an anthem for my life.

There are many intense things happening simultaneously around us.  Imperative issues, and deep concerns.  It seems we’re at a critical point that will take as many awake, conscious, and informed individuals as possible.  One of the most powerful posters I have seen around town is reminding us, “we’re in this together.”  I attended a Zoom forum last night led by Resolutionaries.org on dismantling racism.  It was eye opening, intriguing, and at times uncomfortable; people breaking down walls and barriers.  Several discoveries were made by the end of the evening about dialogue that has been missing, personal reflection, and new action being asked of us to improve the state of our nation. I walked away with two conclusions.  One was that everyone has a lane they are moving in, and each person will do what’s best for them in their lane with their knowledge, resources, and influence.  Second, for us to truly make a difference, to experience fundamental change, it is going to take action steps; and people’s action steps are different depending on their lane.  So, the most compassionate question I came away with from last night is, what is the next best step for you? It was agreed that just talking about change is a good start, but is not enough.  There needs to be a next step.  The opportunity we face now is beginning to ask people gently, what is your next step?

 

Showing up

With a passion for social justice, and a heart for activism, I have always been drawn to protecting the innocent.  At times I have been teased for the extent to which I am willing to go out on a limb for something, someone, doing things I have never done before, that I have not been trained to do, and told not to do without a leader!  What came to me upon that warning, was…I am a leader.  And “if not me, than who, If not now, then when?”  I would have never imagined myself lobbying Capitol Hill or meeting with Senate and Assembly Members to stop or forward a cause.  This was not part of my plan.  However, activism called me, and there I went.  In my heart, I seek right action.  I choose to be surrounded by people who care deeply for one another, are willing to express it, and even admit they were wrong…then actually change their behavior and do something about it.  Is that too much to ask?

 

Walk not talk

I know quite a few people doing a lot of good.  I am proud of their contributions.  And still, with the most recent crimes against humanity, more of us can do better. What calls you?  What person or group inspires you to stand up and take action?  We have been taught to blame, criticize, point the finger, and many have been crippled in fear.   I realize some of us have never been taught how to take positive action.  I teach social and emotional learning to teens at Mount Miguel High School for a non-profit.   I want youth to have tools and self-confidence to be happy and succeed, no matter what their surroundings are.  This is my current contribution.  If we can teach teens how to speak up, how to handle things better than we do, how to ask for help, and how to take positive action, then we can turn this thing around.  If we wait for institutions to change and other people to solve the dilemmas of our time, we will certainly be passing these challenges onto our children.

 

The epiphany

A client of mine had a rather large let down when finally meeting the role model for her life’s work.  She suddenly realized her mentor, the person she had been looking up to all these years, was not willing to take the next step to finish the job.  I remember clearly the reaction my client had during our coaching session, where suddenly she blurted out… “I am the one I have been waiting for!”  In kind…I believe “it is us we have been waiting for!”  Taking the next step can be as simple as where we put our hard-earned dollars.  Another way to stand up and get involved is to integrate philanthropy and business.  I have been exposed to some brilliant new business models in the last few years, where I first heard the term Philantropreneur; an entrepreneur who does philanthropy with their business, not on the side, but integrated in the business.  I have hope for the people I have seen take to the streets, I have hope we can do our research, attend forums, reach out to those being impacted; and each time a step is taken, there is progress.  As we care about the injustice to others, listen and understand, more are awakened and find the courage to join us and do the same.  You don’t have to do everything, you just have to do something.  What’s in your lane?  What’s your next step?

 

https://www.resolutionaries.org/