Luther is loving the weather. Cold. Damp. A smidge of ice. It feels familiar to him and Luther is a guy who sorts for familiar much of the time.
Phoebe and I are not so sure. Cranky joints seem crankier than usual. Plus, there’s lots of laptopping to get done so, while Luther is out chatting (loudly) with the dogs next door, Phoebe and I have been huddled in the den, with fuzzy blankets and movies on TV.
Sister Act (1 & 2) have been on a bunch. I’m a fan and excited to learn, in a recent Colbert interview with Whoopi Goldberg, that a third movie is in the works.
I know. It’s not likely to win an Oscar but the music is great and there’s lots of empowering going on, which works for me. Here’s one of my favorite scenes from the first movie:
The novice nun, Sister Mary Robert says to Whoopi, Do you know how sometimes it’s as if you have to be yourself or you’ll just burst?
Whoopi’s succinct response is, Yep, I do.
Well, I do, too. And the painting and teaching and coaching are the ways I do me. And, of course, being a Grammy!
Then, as I was sketching out the outline for the Miracles workshop, I happened across a rerun of The Help.
Fairly true to form, I had read the book before I saw the movie. And I loved the book! All that speaking the things which “must not” be spoken.
One of my favorite scenes appeared as if on cue today. The maid/nanny, Aibileen, says to the small girl in her care, You is Kind. You is Smart. You is Important.
That claim is, in so many ways, at the core of my commitment to the notion that Grandmothers Are In Charge Of Hope!
Hearing it felt different today. Bigger, somehow. You see, the world has changed since the last time I heard it.
Well, it probably hasn’t changed so much as we’re more aware, many of us, of things that are both true and not working at all.
As I listened and wiped my tears, I wondered what it would be like if that affirmation suddenly became the core of our sharing this planet?.
What if we looked at each person we met and related with them out of the basic premise that they, and we, are kind and smart and important?
What if that was the message not only for our nearest and dearest, but for our nation?
On the one hand, it feels like an awfully big change to imagine.
On the other, it has the rare advantage of being something you and I can start today, no act of Congress required.
Now, I’ll admit that there are exceptions. Not everybody is kind and smart and important and we do have to protect ourselves… but would there be as many exceptions if we started there?
There will undoubtedly be days when we’ll stub our verbal toes over old barriers, but we’ll learn more doing it. And, bit by bit, things will get better.
Some folks won’t be thrilled, but that’s no reason to give up. I’m starting, consciously, now. (The editor who lurks inside me has politely suggested that we fluff the grammar up just a bit.)
You are kind. You are smart. You are important.
Pretty good news to preach…
ps… the artwork, above, is a snippet from my painting, The Fiercely Compassionate Artist.
You are forging right ahead to create a sustainable future!
Thank you, dear Cindy. Together, we’ll make progress!
This writing shows what a great Grammy and all around kind woman you are. Thank you for sharing this. And that sentiment “I am willing to be changed” is quite a novel idea. One that gives me pause so I will definitely have to write about that to discover why the hesitation or even fear. Thanks Susan. You are kind, smart and important to me.💗
Thank you, dear Mary Ann, for reading and pondering with me. (Just between us, it took me a while to come to, “I am willing to be changed” too!) Sounds like it could be an interesting New Year in your world!