The power of the paradox

I want to talk to you about the paradoxicality of this life on planet Earth.

These past few mornings, I've been waking up in a luxurious tropical locale . . . and then reading the deeply horrifying news from Uvalde.

I've been enjoying a stay at a beautiful resort in Mexico . . . while aware that my great privilege to be here results from centuries of exploitation.

How to reconcile these? How to be with these jarring paradoxes?

via GIPHY

I'm still figuring it out.

And/but, right now, I'm leaning hard on this thought:

Two things can be true at the same time.

Like:

This world is full of horror

and/but

this world is full of delight.

and

I cannot fix these problems myself

and/but

I can contribute my thoughts, voice, and money toward solutions.

For me, holding the paradox - the two truths at the same time - is most motivating and empowering. Even if difficult.

For sure, it's preferable to dwelling completely in the positive or the negative, where I always get stuck in either numbness or despair.

So

I hope my thoughts help you,

and/but

I trust you are finding our own way.

May we be gentle and fierce, responsible and unbound.

love,

Natalie