60 Seconds for Wednesdays on Whidbey: Feeling Despair About Democracy's Long Game? Try This!

Hello to you listening in Fairbanks, Alaska! Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds (and a bit more) for Wednesdays on Whidbey and your host, Diane Wyzga. Jack Kornfield, American Buddhist teacher and writer asked, “Where does enlightenment come from?” and proceeded to offer an answer in his book, After the Ecstacy, the Laundry.     For as many times as I’ve read his work I keep coming back to the title: first, we experience an overwhelming feeling of joyful excitement, and then we are back into the reality of day-to-day living.   Our Whidbey Island No Kings rally was my ecstacy, feeling great happiness joining with over 2,500 others waving flags, holding signs, standing together, singing and laughing. Click HERE to access our Whidbey Island No Kings rally Photo Gallery But when it was over I realized there was still the very long game of piles and piles of democracy  laundry. I felt despair. Until I remembered the “We the People” are America’s Power speech delivered by my hero, Reverend William Barber, founder Repairers of the Breach on June 14th to 100,000 people rallying peacefully in the Philadelphia rain. Click HERE to access Rev. Barber’s speech. My very favorite FanGirl bit starts at minute 3:48 when Reverend Barber asks the rally goers to hold the hand of the person next to them and say in “call & response” fashion, the following: “I love your life! I hold your life dear! I will protect your life! I will embrace your life! I will hope the best for your life! I will stand up for your life because we are one humanity and we need each other to survive.” Now that’s how we do the laundry! Question: How are you standing together to reconstruct democracy in your community? Thank you for listening and taking part.  You're always welcome: "Come for the stories - Stay for the magic!" Speaking of magic, I hope you’ll subscribe, share a 5-star rating and nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, bring your friends and rellies, and join us! You will have wonderful company as we continue to walk our lives together. Be sure to stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website, check out the Communication & Story Services, arrange a no-obligation Discovery Call, and stay current with me as "Wyzga on Words" on Substack. Stories From Women Who Walk Production Team Podcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story Arts Music: Mer’s Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron Music ALL content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved.