Part of my new morning routine includes going for a walk on a neighborhood trail to get some fresh air and a little bit of exercise to get my day going. This morning as I walked, I was absorbed in a calming acoustic playlist. I took deep, cleansing breaths, breathing in gratitude and hope for the day and the world. I intentionally noticed small things that brought me joy — dandelions waving happily to me, trees rustling in the gentle breeze, the sounds of the birds chirping as they hopped around. For a moment, I was completely lost in the moment, unaware of anything else.
However, this neighborhood path goes right by a houseless camp. And walking past the tents immediately snapped me back to reality. An awareness of others’ pain and hardship filtered back into my mind, contrasting sharply with the previous moment’s blissfulness. Right on cue, the sound of sirens interrupted my calming playlist. I looked around and noticed several Black Lives Matter signs. I was forced to confront my privilege, that I could be out enjoying a simple morning walk, complete with comfortable clothes, expensive headphones, and virtually no worries for my safety or well-being. From there, my thoughts began to overwhelm me.
It feels like the world is burning down around us right now. Although it is scary, it’s also necessary. In many ways, the old systems and power structures need to be razed to the ground so that a new system of equality and justice can replace…
