What to say?

What to do?

How to be with People of Color?

I’m stuck. Truly. For one who is rarely short on words, I’m a bag of emotions.

And, not sure if I want to blame it on the mixed messages of our country’s leaders or Mercury Retrograde or centuries of history where white privilege has been the norm or the fact that my antennae are hyper focused on receiving messages that are beyond and out of alignment with what I see with my eyes…

Whiteness. White privilege. White women. White culture. We are so IN in, it’s hard to imagine NOT being in it. Yet we share this world, this country, our communities, our neighborhoods, sometimes even our families with those who do not identify as white.

Waking up is painful. It’s easier to go back to sleep. Yet, we can’t sleep this nightmare away. It’s our responsibility to at least acknowledge this isn’t right. It can’t continue. I disagree. This feels wrong.

And I am not just talking about the horrific events last weekend and the lack of accountability by our top government officials to denounce it in a way, apologize in a way, unify in a way, that I had hoped he would.

I am speaking of all ways. Always. Speaking up. Standing up. Moving beyond our fear. Showing up. Not agreeing. Or, not standing by in silence.

No more hiding. Leaders do not hide. They do their work. They SHINE their most brilliantly when the times get dark.

And, I’m learning, that SHINING is not always easy. Or pretty!

Listen in and let me know what resonates. What doesn’t. It’s time to practice opening up and sharing in a more vulnerable way. I’d love to witness that from you.

More info on SHINE Principle at http://DeborahLeeAnn.com/Shine

Join the SHINE Challenge on FB here: http://bit.ly/2i5dDQE

Til our next time together, SHINE your light with love, compassion and authenticity!