#JoyFilledWarrior

I am a #JoyFilledWarrior.

What does this mean to me?

This means that at the center of my being is a flame of Joy that cannot be extinguished.

This means that, even though I am heartbroken and filled with great sorrow, I will choose light over darkness.

This means that even when Rage courses through my very being, I will choose Kindness and Compassion.

This means: 

I will stand for what is right;

I will stand for what is good;

I will DO good;

I will DO what is right.

I am the reason darkness is afraid.

I am the reason fear trembles.

I am the reason hate flees.

Because I will stand outside of the fear.

Because I will shine the light of Love from every particle of my Being.

Because I will laugh at the naked Emperor.

Standing

November 9, 2016

This morning, I awoke to a world that was a little colder, a lot less kind, a lot less compassionate. Or at least my view of it changed. 

But...

I. Am. Still. Me.

At my core, I am still who I was yesterday. 

I've done a lot of soul searching to try and understand my place and responsibility in us being where we are today. Obviously I played a part, I am in this plane of existence, after all. 

And after contemplation, my core is still true to what I hold dear. I still really like who I am. 

Yes, I'm scared. Yes, I'm anxious. Yes, I'm worried.

But...

I. Am. Still. Me.

And I choose to stand. I choose to continue putting love, compassion, and kindness out to the world. I will not let fear dictate the words that I speak. I will not be terrorized into seeing others as threats to who I am. 

Yes, I am angry. Yes, I am heartbroken. 
And the world has enough vitriolic anger. 

So...

I will reach out to others.
I will hug others unreservedly.
I will smile without fear of what others will think of me.
I will love unconditionally.
I will stand.
I will dance.
I will drum.

If you need a healing hug, find me. 

If you need a dumb joke, contact me.

If you need to observe someone being goofy, watch for me. 

I will share joy.

I will stand.

Adversity

"In the face of adversity, we can't lose our courage, our humor, our decency." -Bobby Byars

I will stay courageous by choosing love, by protecting those who are TRULY persecuted & oppressed, and by being light in a dark time.

I will keep my sense of humor by laughing at things that are ridiculous and doing so loudly if the mood strikes me. I will also be willing to risk playing the Fool.

I will keep my decency by speaking my truth with kindness & compassion. I will listen to others with compassion and honestly try to understand them.

I will live fiercely.

I will love deeply.
I will Be.

I miss you, dad, and wonder what you would have said about this recent craziness.