Words

I began reading the autobiographies of Maya Angelou in my 20’s with I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and finished reading A Song Flung Up to Heaven when I was in my 40’s. Reading all of those stories of Maya’s that fell in between the first one and the last, felt wondrously complete! However, as a little, white, Canadian woman, they spoke to me and I wondered why. Why have I been on this path to learn about the human condition? Why do I continue to be curious today? When Spring Washam spoke to Dan Harris on his Ten Percent Happier podcast this week, I finally got it. With every writing, every story I listen to, I understand a little bit more, and therefore judge less. 

One of the things that I learned from Maya, that I am so grateful for is that I can ask someone to leave my home if I do not like the things that they are saying. I do not have to be loud or rude, I can simply ask them to leave because their words are hurtful. Words are powerful and float around a place permeating themselves into our physical world and I do not want my furniture, cushions, art and walls to have hard and negative words penetrate the membrane of their fabric. 

After the killing of George Floyd, I listened to many black lives experiences, and have been reflecting on their words. I thought about many of the authors that I have read, besides Maya; Lawrence Hill and Angie Thomas, Mark Sakamoto and Katherena Vermette, to name but a few. I seem to be drawn to stories of people who have experienced injustices just because of their ethnicity or race and yet my personal experience has always been to be able to go about my life with freedom; or have I been free? If I approach this from my meditative self, then I know, if someone else does not have freedom, I do not. If someone else does not have liberty, I do not. And so, in the words of Brené Brown, “I just want to be a better human to human beings.” 

As I read and watch as well as delve into the classes I am currently enrolled in, I will continue to listen and learn and as Spring encourages, approach these atrocities of life from the heart where words are better understood.

~ Ellyn