OwEn Meadows
reflections on life, creativity, and changeWeekend Reflection #43
What I’m Reading: Manifesto For a Moral Revolution by Jacqueline Novogratz
I rarely read a new book so soon after its release. I usually like to watch how it trends for a bit and see what comes out of the word-works and what kinds of recommendations it draws. But Novogratz’s book hit my desk fast, loaded with suggestions form some of the people I respect most. To make it even better, I chose this book along with a friend as a starting point for a new book club. It couldn’t;t have come at a better time, amid the protests and calls for change. Novogratz’s manifesto is a brilliant handbook for anyone looking to break conformity and make real change in the world. Backed with stories from her time at her Non-Profit, Acumen, Novogratz brings true wisdom to a time rife with reform. While the book focuses on change via investment and business, the lessons within are applicable to any individual looking to be a force for change.
An Intervention on Denial
In the past two weeks, I have watched so many people fall into the snares of hate and denounced the intentions of Black Lives Matter and national protests. Friends, scholars, students, and intellectuals alike, as if from nowhere, have turned their backs and denied the value of human life and connection. People who have always spoken up, from all sides, are now eerily silent.
Arguments erupt in the supposed search for truth, but end up somewhere in the distance. Scrolling through comments and twitter threads, I’ve seen every kind of rationalization, ranging from the half-baked “If it wasn’t for the property damage…” to delusions of a Marxist coup d’etat. Pleas of support and change are met less with clear thought than with egregious and tangential bullying. There are guilty on both sides.
But how do we pull back the curtain on a falsely rationalized “truth?” Do you trudge along and hope they come to their senses in the wake of change? Or do you stand up and educate them on their own misjudgments? I’m for the latter.
The growing divide is less an argument for truth than an intervention on its denial. A view only possible through privilege. Those who come out on the other side, understand themselves in a new way and contribute to change. Meanwhile, the rest pull further into delusion.
The reality is that deep down, everyone, even those in denial, knows what the right thing is. Delusion is a shield. The war to be waged is not with truth, but a confrontation with our own denial. As Marcus Aurelius wrote nearly two thousand years ago: “Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.” We know what is right, there is no argument to be had, only a willingness to listen and confront our own faults.
The path forward is one of action and intervention. Choose to confront the denial around you and inside you at every turn. The truth is there, as long as you are open to it.
Resources to help you with your own intervention can be found here or here
You can also donate to bail funds here and support the Black Lives Matter Movement directly here.
Weekend Reflection #42
What I’m Reading: Zen Mind Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu-Suzuki
I’m taking a little break from the west to expand my philosophical interest to the east. This book has repeatedly floated to the top of the list. In many ways, I find Suzuki’s messages to reflect much of what I’ve internalized in my reading of western philosophies. The book has forced me to take a more in-depth look at my meditation practices, which for all intents and purposes, is pretty sloppy. For those unfamiliar with eastern philosophy or Zen, I think this is a great place to start.
What I’m Commiting to: Active Anti-Racism
I will be the first to admit my exposure to black voices in America has been incredibly slim. But seeing and supporting the protests around the world has truly opened my eyes to how much more I have to learn and take part. There is a place for all of us in the fight for equity and justice. To that end, I am speaking up and educating myself however I can. If you’d like to join you can find valuable resources here: https://blacklivesmatter.carrd.co/
A Quote I’m Thinking About:
“I am convinced that people are much better off when their whole city is flourishing than when certain citizens prosper but the community has gone off course. When a man is doing well for himself but his country is falling to pieces he goes to pieces along with it…”
Pericles
You may say that the racial inequity of this country (and the world) has nothing to do with you. But it absolutely does. We are nothing without those around us. We have a duty to protect and stand up for those around us. What’s bad for the bee is bad for the hive.
Weekend Reflection #41
What I’m Reading: That One Should Disdain Hardships by Musonius Rufus
I’ve been waiting a long time to get my hands on this one. If you’re familiar with Stoicism you will usually recall the three pillars, Marcus, Seneca, and Epictetus. Apart from these 3, Stoic literature is very disparate. That’s why I was so glad to find a new edition of the discourses of Musonius Rufus. If you are looking to expand your philosophy palette in a more academic way I would recommend it. Musionius served as Epictetus’ teacher and the lines of influence are very clear. A must-read fo the budding Stoic.
Weekend Reflection #40
What I’m Enjoying: Reconnecting
I’m sure most people are having this experience right now. Trapped in our houses, without much contact, we are suddenly reconnecting with old friends, family, and past influences. I like (and hope) to think it’s less of a defensive response to loneliness than an active choice to reconnect with the things we find truly meaningful. For me, friendships have always come and gone, I’ve gotten used to the transience of relationships. But now, I find myself reaching out to old friends, best friends, and finding new ways to rekindle those relationships. Pre pandemic, I would have shuddered at the thought of breaking those barriers, but spending this time alone, exploring ourselves in a new way, I think we are all opening up more than we ever have. It’s kind of amazing to watch and participate in that.
What I’m Falling In Love With: My City
I’ve lived in Boston for the last four years. Two of them in my current apartment in Orient Heights. In all that time, I never took the opportunity to explore the city or even my neighborhood. I was always going somewhere with a “purpose” never just out for the sake of wandering. Before I leave Boston in the fall, I want to change that. Yesterday I went for a walk in my neighborhood and stumbled onto a beautiful field, surrounded by marsh, hidden away where I never thought to look. Even just this adventure made me fall in love with this city all over again. It’s more than enough to get me off my butt and out every day. I can’t wait to see what else I find.
What I’m Focusing On: Equanimity
If the Stoics had to boil down their ideal into one word, it would be “apatheia.” I know it sounds pretty close to apathetic, which is a bit misleading. I prefer to compare it to today’s definition of equanimity. That is, to find the composure of mind to not be swayed, or subverted by extreme passion, pain, or overwhelming emotion. The goal is not to cut off feeling, but to reach a state of mind and presence where we cannot be disturbed by them. Easier said than done. But in those moments of clarity, it’s easy to see how we can begin to accomplish this. Staying present, focusing on what we can control, temperance in the face of pleasure. In short, what we know the “right thing” is in our bones. If there’s one thing we can all focus on right now it’s finding that clarity, inching towards apatheia however we can. It doesn’t take extreme productivity, just a willingness to be present and a desire to confront yourself.
A Quote I’m Considering:
How much more damage anger and grief do than the things that cause them.
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 11.18