So much happens every day of our lives. We blink and it's over. Yet, we seem to be racing to the next thing, maybe missing the needle in the haystack. Why race? Why, oh why do we do this?
Last night, I came together with 5 other women/colleagues to help bring the new documentary film "Race to Nowhere" to our local community. It felt like it was just supposed to happen. Five hundred tickets sold in ten days time. Everyone was ready and waiting for the movie's message. And it appeared loud and clear. Teens were up on the screen discussing how much stress they are under. From too much homework, to over-scheduling to staying up late into the night; they all realized they were on the "race to nowhere."
Working with pregnancy has been part of my professional work these last several years. One common theme has emerged. Even at the start of life there was a RACE for the baby to come out. Some pregnant folks would tell their due date as if it was a hard and fast rule, and when the baby hadn't arrived, were on the phone with their respective care providers seeking a medical induction of labor. Despite all the evidence indicating due dates were not always accurate, the race continued.
The RACE continues as we watch our babies emerge into the life cyle. These babies begin to crawl, and we're already talking about when they are going to start walking. When they walk, we want to know when they'll run. When they argue at the dinner table over who should wash the dishes, we are fantasizing about what ivy league law school they will attend (and our kids are only 8).
We all have room to wake up even more and see the damage this race plays on our own emotional and physical lives. For ourselves, and our famlies, we must assess the damage we may have caused. We must clean out the attic, the basement, and all the rooms in-between. Not just with a wiry, old broom. We need to all participate in this cleaning out. I'll take the broom. You take the dust pan. You take the polish and your friend can use the vacuum. It's in this spirit of community that we will effect change. The change that we (and our kids) need to see in the world. Before it's too late.
Therapy (counseling) is one way to clean out the attic. Your counselor can help you find the cobwebs that you may not even know are there. It's like getting a clean slate to write on but using a different script when it comes time to write the words. I love helping people clean out those cobwebs, and trust that there are those that will do the work needed on themselves so that new scripts can be written for change to ensue.
People stayed well after the movie ended. Some went out for tea, others for a glass of wine. Rumblings of a second screening are underway. Vicki Abeles, the Race to Nowhere (RTN) discussed how we've all been to meetings and finding out what was wrong and what should be changed. The difference lies now in NOT stopping. Rather, we clean out, take stock and move forward with more grace than we could have ever imagined possible. There's just no other way.
Louis Stevenson wrote "Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant."
I intend to do that. And I know you will too.
~Lisa
