This is my mum.
I see so much joy, strength and confidence in this image and I wanted to share her energy with you all. My mum has this magical ability to somehow make me feel so close to her even when we're physically so far apart. In fact, she would actually be the first person I think of whenever I experience bouts of loneliness. It's in the way she checks in on me every other day, the way she remembers every single detail of what I shared with her, how she is on top of what I've been up to more so than I am, how she always asks if I've been eating enough, working out a soup recipe with me. All these iterations of expressing "I'm there for you". She really is the most 'There' person I know. Her unwavering presence meant I always feel accompanied by a readily empathetic witness along the journey I thread, through all its peaks and troughs. That there are no steps I take alone, with echoes of her in my mind cheering, "Go on, I'm right behind you". I can't quite pinpoint how this came to be yet. Maybe it's the quality of attention she offers, at times the frequency of attention or the timeliness of attention. Whatever it is, I am in awe by how powerfully she channels attention, something universally recognised as lacking amongst us in present time and what we have been trying to reclaim through practices of mindfulness. My mum may barely recognise contemporary mindfulness practices and the jargon that can come along with them. Yet I didn't think she needed it, because she is already embodying it, as a Mother of four very fortunate sons. The work I share will always be a way of honouring her. How I can be there for others in the same way she has held me. As a loving, anchoring presence of guidance and more so, encouragement.
So here's a question for you in this spirit...
What does being There mean to you? How can you be There for others?
Resources
In playing catchup with International Women's Day...
I celebrate the many other inspiring womxn around me who actively #ChooseToChallenge existing structures of oppression through their unique lenses.
Jonelle Lewis, Leila Sadeghee, Kallie Schutt, Stacie Graham offer a yoga teacher training centered in social justice and collective care. (RadicalDarshan)
Jo Fong asks us to join the conversation, look gently to the future and acknowledge what and who we need to remember. (WhatWillPeopleNeed)
Naomi Absalom launched a progressive space for meaningful work that gently shakes the spirit. (CollectiveEnergies)
Mai-Anh Peterson, Viv Yau, Amy Phung, Karlie Wu, Isabelle, Charley Wong run a grassroots movement championing East and South East Asian voices. (besea.n)
Maddy-Rose Robinson organises a one day yoga festival raising money to welcome refugees in the UK through Student Action for Refugees. (BetheChangeUK)
Lara Muller started a micro-bakery as an opera singer in London. (Lara'sBakery)
Nicola Peters established a non-profit to restore Mother Earth. (re:earth)
Please support the amazing work they do.
That is all from me today.
Thank you always for your presence, trust and support.
I appreciate you.
David