Be Water

There was no greater gift this week than my Wednesday afternoon class. The way my students uplifted each other, me, and themselves, was heart-quakingly beautiful. One of them mentioned the inspiration they were gaining in this brutal time from a quote writer adrienne maree brown’s posted on social media: “When the world is on fire, be water.”

I had planned on exploring my own thoughts on the metaphor today, until I heard the news Friday night that 2 acres of Prospect Park itself - my saving grace in the urban jungle - was ablaze. And not just any part of Prospect Park - the exact spot I went to Tuesday afternoon before election results began to come in, seeking guidance from the trees. When I asked them to help us, the force which exists in both them and me responded, “You have to trust us.” Now, as that very spot smolders I can’t help but wonder, but can it trust US? Brooklyn burns, my home state of Massachusetts is burning, as I drove out of the city Friday morning I watched as New Jersey burned…

Though I am bolstered by my work teaching, the research project in Ireland I am about to begin, and my work drawing for kids, and feel I have a clear path forward despite the mire we are headed in to, I am a bit too delicate at the moment to delve further into the metaphors of fire and water. So instead, here is a little animation I made four years ago, in the depths of the pandemic.

If you are in pain, make sure you are stopping to grieve, deeply, for as long as you need. And don’t miss it or dismiss it when moments of joy arrive - grief is not a line.