“What would it mean to overcome oppression? What would it mean for our society to have that kind of transformation?... What awareness? What daring? To get people to see that no one is really thriving if others are laid waste?... What would it mean? What would it take?” VisionCourageAwarenessCommitmentTransformationConvictionOppressionPotentialDaringNo More Oppression Author:Shellen Lubin
“The RNC was easy for Trump to corrupt to his will, because it had already been corrupted with voter suppression, Frank Luntz messaging, the Hastert Rule, the selling of Sarah Palin, telling different lies to different voters just to gain their support, Mitch McConnell's theft of the supreme court (assisted by those justices prevaricating at their senate hearings), to name just a few. And how about the New York Times, and all those journalists country-wide who cared more about appearing "fair and balanced" than exposing lies and corruption? We watched them not know how to handle the vilification of facts, but that, too, started before Trump (think Joe Walsh calling out "You lie!" during Obama's State of the Union, when Obama was stating facts. They reported the lack of decorum, but not the lack of veracity.) Now we watch the legal system--and its avenues for motions and appeals before, during, and after conviction--be abused and corrupted by Trump's legal team, with an assist from judges who don't even try too hard to hide their partiality. We need those who participated whose eyes have now cleared to be as forthcoming as Michael Cohen has been in exposing how and why the deeds were done, and owning their culpability. They need to come clean, to help us find ways to strengthen the frayed and fraying institutions that are barely holding together. It may be the only way through.” JusticeVisionStrengthTrumpSurvivalLiesAbuseSalvationCorruptionCome Clean Author:Shellen Lubin
“Big ventures make you realize even more deeply how much each piece, each part, is needed to realize a vision, complete a journey, For want of a nail, the kingdom was lost” CareAttentionVisionFocusJourneyPerspectiveDisciplineAmbitionDetailsConsequently Yours Author:Shellen Lubin
“Whose life matters to you? Who do you speak for? Who do you defend? How large is your vision of the world? How much pain and destruction of others is too much for you to stand? We all must ask ourselves those questions right now. Ask and ponder and ask again. We all must ask each other these questions. And the answers will lead us to what we must do-- individually and collectively, small and large actions-- what we must do.” ActionPainVisionDestructionRepresentationQuestionsSoul SearchingDefendWhose Life Matters Author:Shellen Lubin
“Oh, how we need MLK Day right now-- need MLK--his vision, his words, his feistiness-- not the way he's painted by the centrists (no less the right), but the way he stood up for what was necessary to make America live up to its ideals (yes, he was imperfect yes, bits of hypocrisy and misogyny, and yet mostly brilliance and caring and extraordinary efforts on behalf of all Americans because we are all deprived of justice and equity if any of us are).” JusticeVisionIdealsCaringImperfectionEquityBrillianceInterconnectednessMlkMlk Day Author:Shellen Lubin
“I sat still for awhile, and I saw something when the mist cleared that I had never fully seen before. If you see my truth as a sign of disrespect (because it conflicts with your truth), then nothing I can ever say can ever have an effect that isn't negative... So I didn't contradict anything. Anything. I just took it all in. And then, yes, I get to go back to my world and do with it what I will. I wouldn't do it for just anyone. But for them, it was worth it. It was so worth it.” LoveTruthVisionListeningDisciplinePrioritiesClarityAutonomyDisrespectMist Clears Author:Shellen Lubin
“Setting boundaries is easy... Holding boundaries is what's hard. But then, over time, something miraculous happens. You set the boundary, you do what you need to do, and you immediately feel lighter, freer, less burdened-- not every time, not with every person-- but with some people every time-- and with every person sometimes-- and a new habit forms of doing it in a way that works better for you and not making yourself suffer for that. I love feeling that I've made a good decision for myself, for the situation, for the long-range outcome.” LoveRelationshipsVisionBalanceBoundariesPreparationDecisionsMiraclesHolding Boundaries Author:Shellen Lubin
“Only by moving out of fear and hatred can we truly manifest the vision of our founders-- not their actual vision, because they were limited, too, but the theoretical vision to which they aspired. The 'other side' is not the enemy. Fear and hatred are the enemies.” FearVisionEnemyHatredManifestAspireFounding FathersOtheringOther SideDivine Discontent Author:Shellen Lubin
“It's a delicious paradox, a contradictory co-existing reality, to love unconditionally but stay separated enough to see clearly at least sometimes.” LoveRealityMovingSpaceVisionBalanceClarityParadoxStaying Separated Author:Shellen Lubin
“Witnesses. Help us see how others see. Help us see ourselves from another vantage point, a larger landscape, a different view. Witnesses. Reality checks. Mirrors. Cameras. Other lenses. Different views. They can save us from our worst possible choices or from participating in someone else's.” RealityTruthVisionSupportAwarenessPerspectiveReflectionClarityWitnessDifferent View Author:Shellen Lubin
“Autumn, when, ultimately, all illusions fall away and are cast aside, leaving the trees and hills and roadways--the very earth itself--laid bare and open, stark realities fully revealed. You cannot move forward in the real world if you cannot see the real world. You cannot find the beauty in the world if all you see is its adornment.” RealityBeautyVisionProgressIllusionNakedAutumnRevelationRevealAutumn Realities Author:Shellen Lubin
“You cannot move forward in the real world if you cannot see the real world. You cannot find the beauty in the world if all you see is its adornment. Autumn comes. Autumn falls. Autumn leaves. The world turns fire and burns off all that is fading.” RealityBeautyVisionFireAutumnDecorationBurnForwardRevealAutumn Falls Author:Shellen Lubin
“Things are getting ugly very quickly, and I see the fault lines getting darker, thicker, more deeply embedded in the ground where we tread. I see clearly, quickly the ones who are expendable for too many people who are still comfortable or believe they are comfortable or believe they are somehow exempt from the wrath of those trying to turn back time to a world of kings and lords and peasants, artists begging for pennies town to town, lordly religious righteousness, and pagans and witches and those who are disabled or just 'different' burned at the stake.” VisionDarknessUglyBetrayalDeceptionWrathComfortingWhose Life Matters Author:Shellen Lubin