Solidarity

A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer,

it sings because it has a song.

MAYA ANGELOU

Dear friends,

These past two weeks, we have found ourselves at a loss for words.

We are holding many, many questions and each day we become more aware of things we have been unaware of for far too long. We are just getting started.

What we do know is this:

We stand with the Black community. 1000%.
Our hearts are heavy.
We are listening.
We are sitting with discomfort. Lots and lots (and lots and lots) of discomfort.
We are allowing the discomfort to open our hearts and fuel right action.
We are hopeful.
We can and will and must do better.

Our mission with Pause is to help people find a greater sense of peace. The raw and deep truth is that none of us can find peace with the entrenched racism and white supremacy that saturates our bodies, our communities, and our beleaguered country. If we think we can, we are kidding ourselves.

For our white friends and community members, Rev. angel Kyodo williams offers this:

You might not know what to "do" about it,

but you can start by feeling,

which is where all wisdom of what to do

when you don't know what to do

comes from.

For our BIPOC friends and community, we hear you. We care deeply about you. We will show up for you.

Meditation and mindfulness are the precise tools for doing the deep work that we need. Our minds and bodies are processing so much right now – this practice will help us metabolize all that we are touching into; from this space, healing and wise action can emerge. Many of you reading this have been honing your tools for some time. For those of you who are brand new, there's never been a better time to begin!

We've put together a few resources below that we've found especially useful. Thank you for all that you are already doing, and please, remember to go slowly and be gentle with yourself. Only in taking care of ourselves can we truly take care of each other.

None of us has the answers, but every single one of us can sing.

With hearts wide open,

Rena and Ryan