A BLESSED BURDEN

As we continue to explore our individual and collective effort for true change, I feel it worthy to mention the burden we may feel through change.  Let’s be honest, the struggle with advocating for change is real.  In our effort, we are consistently balancing the weight of the burden and assessing what we feel we can carry.  “Change work” requires strength and stamina.

I find it helpful to accept the experiences around me as a reminder of something I believe to my core: As humans we are created for relationship. (Yes, relationships, with all of their ups and downs.)  It is through those relationships that meaningful work is put in front of me every day – opportunity to serve my family and my community, opportunity to influence and shape the space and time I share with others.

While the day to day of that doesn’t always seem clear or feel good for that matter, how can I deny that carrying that ‘burden’ is the right thing to do? How can I deny that it is good for me?  It is in fact that very day to day discipline that makes me human and tethers me to others and to this physical world that is my temporary home.  It is in carrying this effort that I grow and that I grow my connectedness with those around me.  It’s actually what I have come to identify as a blessed burden and I never carry them alone.  Each meaningful relationship in my life is rich with mutual dependency.  We lean on one another and provide support to each other.  We aren’t walking through change alone.  While there are times I can help others, there are also times I need to be strong enough to ask others for help.  When I do, our relationship grows as does our collective impact.

So celebrate your self-development as you move into the new calendar year and one step closer to who you’d like to be.  Allow yourself to see where your ‘best self’ might have influenced positive change in those around you and in the thinking and systems that limit you and others.  Embrace the gift of the blessed burdens that make you human and move forward with gratitude and clarity.  I am looking forward to our work together into the next year.