Welcome to October and all of the richness and color that it brings to us here in Colorado. But no matter where in the world you may be nor what season is being ushered in, we fervently hope you remain in good health.
This month also brings us closer to the time that here in the US, we are called upon to make a vital decision: whom will I choose to represent me, and my country as a whole?
We have collectively spent thousands of hours on our mats. And by now we certainly know that in order to reap any reward we must be willing to put in the time. It does not matter nearly so much that our practice will fluctuate from one day to the next as it does that we make the investment to show up in the first place. Our actions are a reflection of our beliefs, and there is no more powerful a statement than how we choose to decide the future - either of one, or for all.
That being said, these are some of the critical issues that are at stake for us right now:
Climate Change
Healthcare
Immigration
Reproductive and Women’s Rights
Education and Student Debt
US Economy and Trade
There is no doubt that one or all of the items on this list, albeit incomplete, will affect us individually. But we have also learned through our practice that we do not walk this path alone. We commune together in laughter and joy, in sadness and grief; we celebrate each other’s victories and mourn one another’s losses. Would our practice be as meaningful if it were otherwise? Isn’t our collective trajectory worth consideration? I do hope that together we can view our progress through a wider lens and understand that our actions today result in a brighter and more positive reflection of the world we want to live in.
If action is important to you, there are many ways in which we can participate to the betterment of the whole. Consider volunteering! First and foremost is to participate in our elections process. As reported by the New York Times, "Elections officials throughout the country have cited a shortage of poll workers to staff in-person voting sites as a major problem for November’s election, which has been upended by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The shortage has been particularly acute in Black communities, which have historically experienced longer wait times and have had fewer polling locations than many white communities.” Sol teacher Jen Chun has been an essential participant of the process this year and is a wonderful source of information for those who would like to know more. Here are some additional resources:
eac.gov —> Click on the Learn More button under Help America Vote
workelections.com —> Click dropdown to select your state
Looking for more information on the issues at hand? It is vital that we get real information from trustworthy and reliable sources. Take a look here:
Did you know that David Attenborough recently broke a Guinness World Record? His first Instagram post gained 1 million followers in just over four hours this September. What did he have to say? “As we all know, the world is in trouble.”
Your vote is about so much more than humanitarian issues; it is undeniably about our collective future on this planet. If our environmental health and protection is not yet on your radar, it should be. This is not an issue that can be distilled to an us-versus-them argument, but one that inevitably involves us all - and those we will leave behind. I urge you to watch his latest feature here: A Life On Our Planet.
Are you inspired to make a difference beyond November? Check out volunteermatch.org to search for in-person and virtual volunteer opportunities in your area. Also, one of our longtime practitioners (Hi Bob!) is a member of this amazing and local organization that hosts an annual Day of Service in Arvada, Golden, Idaho Springs, and Englewood. Check out beatool.orgfor more information and to sign up.
“What you do makes a difference. And you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” ~ Jane Goodall