We must become scholars of belonging.
The Center for Humans & Nature has been exploring how we create communities to which all of us can belong. Writer, editor and activist adrienne maree brown posted six specific ways she thinks we can do so. Here's one. They're all worth reading.
"Task: We must become scholars of belonging.
"Need: Separation weakens. It is the main way we are kept (and keep each other) in conditions of oppression.
"Truth: Belonging doesn’t begin with other people accepting us. It begins with our acceptance of ourselves. Of the particular life and skin each of us was born into, and the work that that particular birth entails.
"Mantra: Where we are born into privilege, we are charged with dismantling any myth of supremacy. Where we are born into struggle, we are charged with claiming our dignity, joy, and liberation.
"Possibility: From that deep place of belonging to ourselves, we can understand that we are inherently worthy of each other. Even when we make mistakes, harm each other, lose our way, we are worthy.
"Practice: Learn to apologize. A proper apology is rooted in this worthiness – 'I was at my worst. Even at my worst, I am worthy, so I will grow.'
"Practice: Move towards spaces that value us, let ourselves belong to those communities that know they want us, know they need us, know we have worth, know we deserve more than transactional care."
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