Reminder of the Week: Be Grateful

Hello Folks!!! Let me update you with what's going on with me. Well, for starters CaneLa Womyn is in California! 
I got here just in time to miss the crazy blizzard that hit Chicago hard and has caused the city to shut down for... well, it just about still is. While I'm grateful to not be stuck in a car on LSD or having to deal with 2 ft+ of snow, this snowmaggedon (as some are calling it) still affects me 2000 miles away. How does that affect me? Well, that means I can't come home until the 2800+ canceled flights(before mine) going into Chicago are updated. So my 7day get away is more like an undecided survivor episode.


Well CaneLaWomyn what's so bad about that?

Well readers, I'm traveling with my 3 year old sister whose threshold for being away from her Papi is decreasing by the day.

Still, as Oli, my little sis, folds up ripped out pages of her coloring book as letters to her Papi, she reminds me that there is still some positivity to see while we're here. She says we can go home tomorrow (sucks to be me tmrw when that doesn't happen), but today we should go to the park. This stands out to me as a larger message.

On my free time I've been reading about all the snowscapades in Chicago and simultaneously about the protests in Egypt and across Northern Africa.  I've been absolutely floored by the photographs, articles, updates, etc. The Brothers and Sisters struggling in solidarity are in my thoughts and prayers. How incredibly brave, powerful, resilient, scary and difficult. I salute the people who have had enough with such a rigid government and are fighting to be heard and respected. Animo.

It's easy to be removed from struggle and have so much to say about who is to blame, give an opinion about every single thing that is taking place and figuring out some way to blame the American government. 

Granted, those things are all valid to bring light to the larger picture of what is occurring and how it could have been prevented. But, at this point, all is said and done and thousands of people are in the streets, violence is rampant and lives are being risked left and right in the name of power.

As much as I always have something to say about politics and scolding the powers that be that take advantage of the people and their positions of power, this time I'd only like to focus my attention on the civilians who are doing a lot with a little.

As we sit on the other side of the world being able to freely hop online, walk outside without being in immediate danger, go to the park and even eat at the slightest feeling of hunger (most of us), we need to remember that people are dying. Many are being injured. And the struggle has just begun.

Be aware folks. Be aware of others, of self, of privilege, of struggle. and be grateful. things ain't peaches within this country (don't I know it), but we can't overlook our own privilege, even in moments of struggle.

Take care, y'all.