This month, because I live for non-conformity (and to keep from having to think of something to write about) I am participating in a challenge designed to celebrate Ralph Waldo Emerson’s 208th birthday. (Honestly, he doesn’t look a day over 112 to me.)
Today’s prompt:
It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude. – Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance
The world is powered by passionate people, powerful ideas, and fearless action. What’s one strong belief you possess that isn’t shared by your closest friends or family? What inspires this belief, and what have you done to actively live it?
I don’t believe that differences in religious persuasions or political philosophies diminish one or magnify another.
I do believe it’s arrogant to try to impose belief systems on one another.
I don’t believe prayer is a stage or a confessional.
I do believe being a prayer is better than any spoken prayer I’ve ever had to sit through.
I don’t believe patriarchy has served anybody well.
I do believe it’s time for the feminine to rise up,
and be recognized,
and honored,
and celebrated.
to be embraced
and embodied.
I don’t believe women must become sacrificial lambs before their children to be a good mother.
I do believe it’s time to rip that page from the rulebook.
I don’t believe power is synonymous with power over.
I do believe I’m snatching my power out from under you right about now.
I don’t believe that traditional education has nearly enough respect and encouragement for independent, original thoughts.
I do believe that at its worst, traditional education creates drones (and I also believe we have a gracious plenty of those already.)
I don’t believe we possess a finite amount of creativity.
I do believe trying to use your creativity all up is the best way to grow more.
Because I don’t believe that every member of my family nods their head in agreement everything I put forth (here and otherwise),
I do believe that they sometimes entertain fantasies of having me rendered mute in a witness protection program.
“I don’t believe power is synonymous with power over.”
Wow. What an amazing statement. That provoked such a strong reaction from me..a hearty, “YEAH!”
And, I had to laugh at the last paragraph. I am certain that my family feels the same about me a lot of the time.
Thank you for this post!
We are sooo very cut from the same swath of divine cloth, my love. Grateful to read your words today and looking forward, as always, to hear what you have to say next. Love, love, love.
Amen to that! Cliched though it might be, truer words have never been spoken. And if momma’s a martyr all the time, she’s not doing her best as a momma — momma’s gotta take care of herself in order to take care of her kidlets. Remind me of this fact as often as possible because I need to heed those words more than you know.