Hello Hello Hello,

I am here, after having been there for quite some time... I know... and so much has happened to me individually and for us collectively. The results of the election and the madness at Standing Rock are creeping into the holiday season and I certainly feel it. I feel the fear, the anxiety, the desire to separate and divide, the not enough resources or time to get it all done.

Right now I want to suggest, and strongly encourage you to continue to SHOW UP to your practice- to yoga or meditation class, to art, to music, to dance, to run club, to church, to coffee dates, or to that which brings you clarity and into the present moment. Do this for yourself, for your family, for your friends, and for the larger community. Now more than ever we need to connect intimately, we need to listen deeply, and we need to see clearly. We need to stay the course and stay committed to the practice of simply showing up with open minds and hearts that are ready to act with a fierce love and compassionate courage. The world has seen many triumphs and defeats before, many rights and wrongs, many whites and blacks, and the world has seen the rise, the fall, and the space and time in between it all. There is so much intense energy and so many high emotions and so many passionate perspectives right now that it all has the potential to shift and evolve our nation and our world to something more whole and representative of our UNIverse- and perhaps we can move a bit closer to the Beloved Community that Martin Luther King Jr. spoke about. This Beloved Community is one where poverty, hunger and homelessness will not be tolerated. It is one where racism and all forms of discrimination, bigotry and prejudice are replaced by an all-inclusive spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood.

But we need to practice. We need to feel the fear and choose love again and again and again. We need to see the light within ourselves and within those that walk with us and all around us.

We need to continue to SHOW UP.

With Deep Love and Gratitude,

Meredith