Tuesdays with TJae - Dayum Being Well-Behaved
Damn Being Well-Behaved. I've been called a lot of things. Stubborn. Obstinate. Insubordinate.
And also - Focused. Determined. Driven.
And for a few years - perhaps even "well-behaved."
Wellllll.......Well behaved women seldom make history and so I'm not behaving well these days. These days I'm damned rebellious - even if I'm quiet while it's happening.
It is the spirit of shaking shyt up that is the driving force behind 100 Voices Women's Dinner Dialogue on Race & Culture.
I've been pretty fortunate to be invited to tables with women from all walks of life. There are a few topics that always manage to surface - family matters, relationships, vocational confusions & sex. Yep - lots of talks about sex.
In smaller circles, mostly with women who look like me, the matters of race, race relations, equity and justice also find a voice. And because I've been at enough tables with women who don't look like me - who feel safe talking with me - I know these subjects come up more often than we share. They happen in a vacuum. They happen with people whose world view likely already resembles our own.
What would happen if we stepped from behind our keyboard courage and sat face to face with open hearts to see the human being across from us and hear her story? What if we didn't try so hard to be heard? But actually took the time to hear? What if the goal was not agreement, but respect?
I know. I know. This isn't what we do.
I know. I know. We've always done it the other way.
I know. I KNOW. It's uncomfortable and scary.
How about we throw our middle finger at fear? How about we push past that bit of dis-ease to find some healing? How about we fill all 100 seats with women committed to moving the needle?
Just a thought.
One more thing . . . Did you really think I was gonna let you leave without reminding you to blow bubbles? Even if you don't come blow bubbles with me, stop by the toy section of your favorite store and grab some bubbles. Blow them for 3-5 minutes and tell me how you feel.