Just Keep Swimming
Until We Make It to the Other Side
Some days I sit down to write and it’s hard to know where to start. We are living in an overwhelming time and there is a LOT to process and address. I’m sure I am not the only one who becomes exhausted emotionally, mentally and physically. After recently re-watching Finding Dory with my sweet granddaughter, my advice is to “just keep swimming”. We will get through this together and love and justice will win. At the end of this article, please read the beautiful song lyrics by Pat Humphries: Swimming to the Other Side.
I was thinking about my blog name, “Awakened2love”, and I realized that in addition to being awakened to love, I have been awakened to lots of hate, depravity, and toxic people and institutions. I may have written before about waking up TO a nightmare, and that’s what it feels like sometimes. A few months ago, I read Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s book Nobody’s Girl about her traumatic childhood including being victimized and sex-trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Last week, I watched a documentary that she participated in along with many other victims. By the end of the four-part series Filthy Rich, I felt like my brain couldn’t handle any more depravity. I don’t enjoy hearing about children being raped and sold to powerful, wealthy people for their entertainment. It is heartbreaking, disgusting and maddening to know that a large and unknown number of people have been allowed to get away with horrendous crimes against children and women for decades. Finally, some of the information is being released and some countries are working on accountability and justice. The brave young women and men who have come forward to share their experiences may finally watch more of their abusers be held accountable for their crimes.
Of course, there are many other examples of hatred and depravity, including the treatment of immigrants in the United States. There is hateful targeting of transgender persons and other LGBTQIA humans. I have written on these topics many times before and wish there wasn’t still a need to keep repeating myself. Fortunately, there are millions and millions of people who are on the side of inclusive love and justice for all humans everywhere. They are shining like stars in this dark night as beacons of hope that one day we will achieve the American dream of liberty and justice for all. Please join us on the journey.
Swimming to the Other Side by Pat Humphries
We are living ‘neath the great big dipper
We are washed by the very same rain
We are swimming in this stream together
Some in power and some in pain
We can worship this ground we walk on
Cherishing the beings that we live beside
Loving spirits will live forever
We’re all swimming to the other side
I am alone and I am searching
Hungering for answers in my time
I am balanced at the brink of wisdom
I’m impatient to receive a sign
I move forward with my senses open
Imperfection, it be my crime
In humility I will listen
We’re all swimming to the other side
We are living ‘neath the great big dipper
We are washed by the very same rain
We are swimming in this stream together
Some in power and some in pain
We can worship this ground we walk on
Cherishing the beings that we live beside
Loving spirits will live forever
We’re all swimming to the other side
On this journey through thoughts and feelings
Binding intuition, my head, my heart
I am gathering the tools together
I’m preparing to do my part
All of those who have come before me
Band together and be my guide
Loving lessons that I will follow
We’re all swimming to the other side
We are living ‘neath the great big dipper
We are washed by the very same rain
We are swimming in this stream together
Some in power and some in pain
We can worship this ground we walk on
Cherishing the beings that we live beside
Loving spirits will live forever
We’re all swimming to the other side
When we get there, we’ll discover
All of the gifts we’ve been given to share
Have been with us since life’s beginning
And we never noticed they were there
We can balance at the brink of wisdom
Never recognizing that we’ve arrived
Loving spirits will live together
We’re all swimming to the other side
We are living ‘neath the great big dipper
We are washed by the very same rain
We are swimming in this stream together
Some in power and some in pain
We can worship this ground we walk on
Cherishing the beings that we live beside
Loving spirits will live forever
We’re all swimming to the other side
Loving spirits will live forever
We’re all swimming to the other side