elizabethlevett

There are times when things seem too big, too formidable to face. It’s easy to feel powerless. We sometimes get a sense that there’s nothing we can do. But this is never the case. The most efficient way to lose at anything, is to give up trying.

We have a few hummingbirds that frequent our garden. We provide them with ample choices for sustenance. Any given time, they can sample a variety of sages, flowering currant shrubs, foxglove, penstemon, and bright red California fuchsia. We also have two cats whose most fervent dream is to catch one of these brilliant little avian dynamos. The hummingbirds, however, don’t seem at all afraid of them and will hover defiantly directly over their heads for a few minutes before suddenly speeding off as if beamed into an alternate galaxy. It’s endlessly entertaining to watch. Hummingbirds are bad ass. Period. A few weeks ago, I happened to look up while on a walk and caught sight of three hummers effectively chasing a good-sized hawk out of their territory. Impressive, to say the least. And it got my me thinking. One hummingbird alone probably wouldn’t have stood a chance.

When I was teaching full time, I used to tell parents to keep one thing in mind if they ever had a question or concern. The thing I wanted them to remember was to always feel free to communicate with me directly. Educating is not easy. It can be very challenging and very lonely. Same with parenting. I always told them, if we don’t work together, there are real limits to what we can accomplish. But if we join forces, there’s nothing we can’t do. Recall for example when a massive media corporation had to pull back from a recent decision because the public power of the purse became too strong a statement to ignore. 

There are some overwhelming things going on, trends that seem truly dangerous. Any one of us alone doesn’t stand much of a chance these days. Especially if we continue finding, actively, areas where we differ, opportunities to give up, reasons to “unfollow” and “unfriend.” And yet, I tend to think there are certain entities who would, just as actively, find ways profit from our division, and ultimate isolation. It’s easy to feel bullied, it’s easy to feel weak, to feel nothing we do can make a difference. And this is exactly why we need to reach across the street and check in with each other. This is why we need to nurture social relationships in favor of parasocial ones. And this is why we need to be there for each other when the bullies try to convince us that they alone are listening, that they alone understand, that no one else cares. I never want to be the person that confirms this and I would go as far as to say, it’s too great a risk for any of us to be the one who does.

Finding ways to come together creatively rather than spending our time insulting or making fun of those outside our experience is, I believe the only way to eventually rebuild the broken bonds in our larger community. This is why I treasure those around me who build small writing groups, join in art-making workshops, hike together, join neighborhood safety groups, and even simply check in with their older (or much younger) neighbors. And not just the ones we always agree with. It’s easy to feel small. But together we can’t help but become so much stronger.