Want more Deb?
Please click here if you are interested in coaching, consulting or other services from Deb.
Tangled Threads and Cultural Beliefs that Damage the Quilt of Humanity
Part of the process of repairing the quilt of humanity involves mending the damage caused by such things as racism, sexism, heterosexism and classism, to name just a few. To be effective in this mending process, we need to recognize that the threads of races, gender, sexual orientation, and class in particular are tangled up together in such a way that they can only be untangled and repaired together. In her book, where we stand: Class Matters,bell hooks speaks directly about this:
“To challenge racism or sexism without linking [my italics] these systems to economic structures of exploitation and our collective participation in the upholding and maintenance of such structures, however marginal that engagement may be, is ultimately to betray a vision of justice for all.” (p. 161)
Global Change: Barack Obama’s Capacity to Change the World
In earlier posts, I have written about the capacity for one individual to change the world. The first one is about the impact of individual actions. The second one is about Barack Obama’s capacity to bring about change at the national level through his authentic presence. Read more
Perpetuating and Spreading America’s Myths
A few months ago, I found myself watching the TV show, “Extreme Makeover.” This show is ostensibly about granting individuals their dreams. In most cases, the “makeover” involves providing individuals with plastic surgery and other procedures to change their appearance. Read more
Class Privilege: Local and Global
Two articles in the New York Times illustrate the impact of class differences and the vast economic inequities that exist both in the U.S. and globally. There is a continually growing divide between those who live richly and lavishly and those who Read more
Color Blind?
So often we hear people claiming to be “color blind” as a way to indicate that they hold no prejudices based on race. Their rationale appears to be that if you don’t notice a difference, it can no longer have a negative impact. What they fail to realize is that when we fail to “notice” differences, there are negative consequences at three levels – the individual, the cultural and the systemic.
At the systemic level, when power differences and distribution of resources and equity are systemically based on race, not noticing race contributes to the continuation of these ongoing inequities. It is precisely the invisibility of these systemic differences that make them so invidious and dangerous. In the case of power inequities, therefore, the danger is not in “seeing” and “noticing” differences but in failing to see the inequities that systemically result from them.
Read more
Being Present vs. Being Out of Our Minds
I had a number of experiences recently that confirm the importance of being present and engaged. In one, I was walking down the street when a beautiful leaf caught my eye. Read more
Everything’s Connected
Table of contents for Change, Transition and Transformation
Part 7 in the Change, Transition, and Transformation Series
When my neck was in pain, I knew that my muscles had tightened up and locked into place. According to Dr. Lou, my chiropractor, the massage had not been effective because my muscles were not the source of misalignment. Rather, the muscles had tightened up in response to the misalignment of my vertebrae.
I continued to see Dr. Lou so he could make adjustments to realign my spine. But, in between visits, my back would become misaligned again and the pain would return. Interestingly, the muscles were so used to being in a tightened, resistance mode, they would fall back into the familiar role by force of habit, pulling my spine out of alignment in the process. The muscles, rather than supporting the adjustments, were working against them.
Read more
Stories As a Means to Make Sense of Our Lives
When I was undergoing my personal transition (see the Change, Transition, and Transformation Series), I had to find ways to pay attention to, see and understand the connections between my mind, body and spirit to tap into a new sense of focus and creativity.
Another vehicle for becoming aligned and integrated as individuals involves stories.
Balance, Alignment, and Support
Table of contents for Change, Transition and Transformation
Part 9 in the Change, Transition, and Transformation Series
As James Baldwin stated:
“Any real change implies the breakup of the world as one has always known it, the loss of all that gave one an identity, the end of safety.” As we undergo change, even desired change, we do temporarily lose ourselves – we lose the identity that we knew and that was familiar to us. As a result, we end up feeling unsafe, uncertain, and off balance.
As is clear from my earlier posts, being able to move through change and transition and successfully come out transformed on the other side is about balance and alignment. Read more
Who Worries About What? – The Impact of Race
My ex-husband is Caribbean-American of African descent (from Barbados) so even though I am white, I know what it is like to raise two children of color. My almost twenty one year old son Read more
-
Get email updates
Subscribe to RSS feed Repairing the Quilt of Humanity: A Metaphor to Understand our Connections
For information about Deb's book, The Quilt of Humanity: A Metaphor for Healing and Reparation, click here