This is a stunningly thoughtful, and helpful, column. Thank you Wendy. I look forward to next week’s continuation.
Women must come together to change the system that we have allowed through our collective lack of organization, voice, POWER. Women are so scared of that word but as MLK said (paraphrasing) “power without love (action-oriented caring) is abusive, love without power is anemic.”
SO great! I’m grateful you pointed me to this. Everything you write here resonates strongly with me—I feel it all, though as you so rightfully point out, as a male of the species, I cannot feel it to its full capacity because there is a strong sacred feminine aspect to the moral imperatives within. As much as I want to believe I am connected to my own inner, divine feminine, I cannot have a lived experience that you and other women have (duh!). I can only commit to listen (aka stop talking! as if my male-centric word is final!), understand, and act upon that understanding in ways that affirm life. War NEVER affirms life! I’m headed, now, to the second part of your thesis. 🙏🏼
Kert, Thank you so much for being an ally. In addition to the sacred feminine energy that functions so differently from what we’re witnessing—an energy you might certainly share—there’s the embodied trauma that’s reverberating for all of us. Every woman knows, in her nervous system, that she can be raped or otherwise violated at virtually any time. Every woman has been the subject of unwanted sexualized attention. Every woman has been directly marginalized by patriarchy. It’s deep.
Absolutely agree! Though I have loved dearly my mom, my grandmother (both no longer are “in body” here on earth), and my wife of 36 years, (to say nothing of having a career that was rightfully dominated, at least in number, by women—that being public education*), all of what you write is made most relevant, and stark on a heart level, to me as the father of my daughter. Watching her grow up, having to navigate what she was forced to travel, made me hyper-sensitive to how “society” treated her, treats women. And that is only considering what I know—which by default is limited because there will always be things I cannot be fully aware of because I don’t live through a female body, therefore cannot experience it first hand. That “embodied trauma” you speak of is real and a part of female DNA because, as you write, women have to constantly evolve by adapting to it on a daily basis. I get it. It’s a level of effort that men don’t have to express. I am grateful every day that, with the loving and strong model of womanhood that my wife offered to my daughter (they consider each other as best friends in addition to their strong familial bond) , that together we nurtured an amazing young woman, now a mother herself, who is genuinely compassionate and strong.
*btw, on the aspect of women in education—I can say without a doubt that the leaders who I though were most effective in my career were strong women who intentionally placed themselves in the vulnerable positions of leadership/administration. In public education, though I don’t have the current numbers to back it up, I believe it is still true that women far outnumber men as teachers/parapros in the classroom, but men are disproportionally found in administrative leadership positions.
It is no wonder you are such a compassionate leader, Kert. Your family—and particularly your daughter—are so fortunate to have you in their lives. It takes a strong man to absorb these realities. Most don’t. Even the “good guys” are struggling with defensiveness today.
For me, a lot of that comes down to the duality of scarcity v abundance. Those who struggle with defensiveness issues do not view the world through the lens of abundance. There is simply no need or rational reason to have a scarcity mentality—that mentality is the cause of so much pain and suffering the world. I thank you for the affirmations you have just gifted me. We’ve had quite the morning, the two of us here, through these interactions. I am always enriched by this deep form of respectful dialogue that uphold the dignity of both the individuals present (you and me), and those we are also holding in our hearts.
This is spot on. Framed this way, I can see this in some of the interactions I've witnessed. The contraction that comes with a lens of scarcity is real. It's painful to watch because, in most cases, it's perceived rather than actual. And, as you point out, it's causes so much pain and suffering. We have had quite the interaction here. I appreciate you. 🩵
Wendy, powerful piece. I relate to ALL of this. As a wondering... a question has crossed through my mind and my being. What if this war was started to take attention off the Epstein files? The timing is fascinating.
Thank you, Julie. I appreciate that. Oh…absolutely. Some people are calling it the Epstein War—even publicly on channels like @MeidasTouch Network. I mean, what happened to Venezuela—a flash-in-the-pan violent distraction? One after another.
I am also feeling distraught, sickened, angry and untethered. That the administration and Republicans think this is okay is quite unbelievable. That there is no end game, and is spreading throughout the Middle East... that it happened unprovoked makes me question everything. Thank you for putting this all into writing.
This is so necessary right now. there are too many brilliant point in this to comment on, so I'm going to go retweet a few right now and try and draw some more eyes on this. Thank you! I look forward to part 2.
This is a stunningly thoughtful, and helpful, column. Thank you Wendy. I look forward to next week’s continuation.
Women must come together to change the system that we have allowed through our collective lack of organization, voice, POWER. Women are so scared of that word but as MLK said (paraphrasing) “power without love (action-oriented caring) is abusive, love without power is anemic.”
Actions not words. Organization. Love + Power.
Thank you, Liz! I love this SO much: “power without love (action-oriented caring) is abusive, love without power is anemic.”
Yes to: Actions not words. Organization. Love + Power.
Brilliant writing and information. Thank you for your insight, words and care.
Thank you, Jerry. I appreciate you.
SO great! I’m grateful you pointed me to this. Everything you write here resonates strongly with me—I feel it all, though as you so rightfully point out, as a male of the species, I cannot feel it to its full capacity because there is a strong sacred feminine aspect to the moral imperatives within. As much as I want to believe I am connected to my own inner, divine feminine, I cannot have a lived experience that you and other women have (duh!). I can only commit to listen (aka stop talking! as if my male-centric word is final!), understand, and act upon that understanding in ways that affirm life. War NEVER affirms life! I’m headed, now, to the second part of your thesis. 🙏🏼
Kert, Thank you so much for being an ally. In addition to the sacred feminine energy that functions so differently from what we’re witnessing—an energy you might certainly share—there’s the embodied trauma that’s reverberating for all of us. Every woman knows, in her nervous system, that she can be raped or otherwise violated at virtually any time. Every woman has been the subject of unwanted sexualized attention. Every woman has been directly marginalized by patriarchy. It’s deep.
Absolutely agree! Though I have loved dearly my mom, my grandmother (both no longer are “in body” here on earth), and my wife of 36 years, (to say nothing of having a career that was rightfully dominated, at least in number, by women—that being public education*), all of what you write is made most relevant, and stark on a heart level, to me as the father of my daughter. Watching her grow up, having to navigate what she was forced to travel, made me hyper-sensitive to how “society” treated her, treats women. And that is only considering what I know—which by default is limited because there will always be things I cannot be fully aware of because I don’t live through a female body, therefore cannot experience it first hand. That “embodied trauma” you speak of is real and a part of female DNA because, as you write, women have to constantly evolve by adapting to it on a daily basis. I get it. It’s a level of effort that men don’t have to express. I am grateful every day that, with the loving and strong model of womanhood that my wife offered to my daughter (they consider each other as best friends in addition to their strong familial bond) , that together we nurtured an amazing young woman, now a mother herself, who is genuinely compassionate and strong.
*btw, on the aspect of women in education—I can say without a doubt that the leaders who I though were most effective in my career were strong women who intentionally placed themselves in the vulnerable positions of leadership/administration. In public education, though I don’t have the current numbers to back it up, I believe it is still true that women far outnumber men as teachers/parapros in the classroom, but men are disproportionally found in administrative leadership positions.
It is no wonder you are such a compassionate leader, Kert. Your family—and particularly your daughter—are so fortunate to have you in their lives. It takes a strong man to absorb these realities. Most don’t. Even the “good guys” are struggling with defensiveness today.
For me, a lot of that comes down to the duality of scarcity v abundance. Those who struggle with defensiveness issues do not view the world through the lens of abundance. There is simply no need or rational reason to have a scarcity mentality—that mentality is the cause of so much pain and suffering the world. I thank you for the affirmations you have just gifted me. We’ve had quite the morning, the two of us here, through these interactions. I am always enriched by this deep form of respectful dialogue that uphold the dignity of both the individuals present (you and me), and those we are also holding in our hearts.
This is spot on. Framed this way, I can see this in some of the interactions I've witnessed. The contraction that comes with a lens of scarcity is real. It's painful to watch because, in most cases, it's perceived rather than actual. And, as you point out, it's causes so much pain and suffering. We have had quite the interaction here. I appreciate you. 🩵
This post is really good Wendy thanks for writing it.
Thank you, Peter. I appreciate that and am glad you’re here. 🙏
Beautiful! Thank you 🙏
🩷
Wendy, powerful piece. I relate to ALL of this. As a wondering... a question has crossed through my mind and my being. What if this war was started to take attention off the Epstein files? The timing is fascinating.
Thank you, Julie. I appreciate that. Oh…absolutely. Some people are calling it the Epstein War—even publicly on channels like @MeidasTouch Network. I mean, what happened to Venezuela—a flash-in-the-pan violent distraction? One after another.
I’m glad others are seeing this too. And even declaring this publicly. Yes, one after another… it’s disgusting.
It’s beyond words…
Sending 🩷.
I am also feeling distraught, sickened, angry and untethered. That the administration and Republicans think this is okay is quite unbelievable. That there is no end game, and is spreading throughout the Middle East... that it happened unprovoked makes me question everything. Thank you for putting this all into writing.
Yes, all of it. I was feeling particularly sickened and untethered this morning. No answers except community and love. 💗
❤️🔥
Back at you…❤️🔥
I'm a mess. Thanks for your needed writing.
I'm right there with you, sister. 🩷
Wendy, Thank you.
🩷
This is so necessary right now. there are too many brilliant point in this to comment on, so I'm going to go retweet a few right now and try and draw some more eyes on this. Thank you! I look forward to part 2.
Thank you, Mark. Your support means a lot. 🩵
This needs to be read.