LISTEN UP CHANGE AGENTS.

I got a rant coming through!

Please be patient with me as I do my best to channel my fierceness in a manner that you’ll be able to hear.

I want to say things like “F**K THIS!” But, I know that beyond the temporary relief of an emotional climax, it doesn’t really say much.

10 years ago I was in Nigeria, Africa. I had a major wake up call as my innocence was stripped down to the naked truth of corruption.

I was MORTIFIED. I stood on the soil of the earth witnessing children in poverty. Swimming in oil invested waters.

HOW COULD THIS BE?!!!

How is it even REAL that we live on a planet with such great resources and immense talent and even ONE of our children is being neglected?

When I returned to America, I was raw. I had been fundamentally changed. I couldn’t un-see what I had been exposed to. I couldn’t un-do the imprint of those children on my heart.

(Picture of me with children in the village of Oporoza.)

Part of me wanted to.
Part of me wanted to pretend it wasn’t there.
Part of me wanted to numb out on potato chips and TV.
Part of me wanted to stay angry and become a full time complainer.

Part of me wanted to justify getting on with my life as usual because I’m “just me” and there really isn’t anything I can do to help. IS there?

Well, I couldn’t shake it. My soul had an earthquake-like shift and it was clear that it was time to get on with a bigger mission.

That’s when I went after building my business. I didn’t know what I was doing. I fell down a lot. I cried a lot. I made mistakes. I flopped some launches. But I STAYED TRUE to my vision to contribute in a meaningful way.

~*~

SO, here’s where my “rant” turns up in volume.

What came to me upon my return to the US… as I prayed and integrated an experience that was now under my skin…is a voice.

A FIRM VOICE. Not punitive. But lovingly authoritative.

It said to me, “Kendra, get over yourself. GET OVER YOURSELF!”

OMG. I knew it was right.

See, I had been putting off building my business for years.

I was scared. I didn’t want to put myself out there. I didn’t want to fail and have to answer to others about how they were right that I was too idealistic to pursue my dreams.

I didn’t want to expose myself to people judging me. Having opinions about me. Even hating me.

I didn’t want to be visible. I didn’t want people to see my flaws. I didn’t want them to attack me if they didn’t like what I said.

I didn’t want to be seen. I didn’t want people to watch me. I didn’t want people to evaluate me.

But I DID WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD.

That is where I had to get real.

“Preserving myself” was in direct conflict with the value to help others.

~*~

Now, what does this have to do with you? The election results?

If you are a change agent…

You. Need. To. Get. Over. Yourself.

Beyond YOU is a WE.

And we need you.

Get over your self-hood.
Get over your insecurities.
Get over your “I’m not good enough”.
Get over your obsession with being liked.
Get over your care about what people think of you.

And GET ON with the work you are here to do.

You know what’s in our face as a result of this election?

We got some healing to do.
We got some forgiveness to do.
We got some bridge building to do.
We got some growing up to do.

It’s not going to happen by each of us huddling with our habits and slinging righteous hate balls at the “other” in order to preserve our false sense of security.

It’s going to come from being the BRAVE SPIRITUAL WARRIORS & WILD WOMEN who care so deeply that nothing….

… I mean NOTHING … will get in the way of creating a world that is safe, sacred, dignified and flourishing for all!!

End rant.

With all that I am,

Kendra E Thornbury, MA