Here is what wasn't said about the riots...

As we saw a mob of pro-Trump rioters seeking to reverse the results last Wednesday, our hearts broke, and we raged. We feel the unbearable injustice as a BIPOC community. We feel the recurrent ache from the White supremacy. 

I am here to tell you the other side of the coin.

We won. Yes, you heard me right.

The Congress confirmed the US President-elect as Joe Biden. The Senate will now be Democrat-controlled. It can be tempting to overlook as we watch wreckage and violence play out on our TV, phone and computer screens.

I believe 2021 brings drastic change. It invites us to let go of what no longer serves. We’re literally seeing this happen right now, so let’s not overlook our work. 

This often happens. We make great strides, but then something bad happens and we forget all the progress we’ve made. 

When we acknowledge our work, we care for ourselves.

Look at what you made happen. We marched in the streets this summer for BLM worldwide. We supported BIPOC communities. We spoke out against the racists in politics. And although the events that are taking place are disgusting and difficult to watch, we must not undermine these accomplishments.

Trump was not reelected. A woman of color will now sit in office. Georgia, a historically red state went blue for both the presidential and Senate elections. This was not by sheer magic, but by the persistent effort of marginalized groups.

And so I invite you to acknowledge and reflect on what ways you dismiss progress in your personal life when things go awry. That could be in regards to your work, relationships, or your own well-being.

Where have you put in the work? Are you acknowledging and rewarding yourself for that work?

When we plant our seeds, we often only recognize some drastic end result. We don’t always relinquish in the growth along the way. We don’t always realize what we had to do to fuel that growth. Instead, we see a full-grown plant one day and thank our lucky stars we were able to keep it alive.

But it is so important to understand how you watered, fed, and nurtured your seeds along the way.

You did that work.

As marginalized folks especially, we feel that we always have to be working towards something greater to be successful. Don’t let that dampen the vastness of what you have done because you have done so much.

There will always be parts of ourselves to improve. Realities of the world to improve. For right now, I encourage you to thank yourself for what you have made happen. The rest will come.

A well-deserving hug to you,

Nora