A Legacy of Care

May we defy the odds, tap into the power of our privilege and consciously save our unfathomable wealth of wild nature on this planet.  kas

Fear Nothing

Apparently, the author of this quote is anonymous.  What a brilliant perspective!   kas

Water Outside Your Window

As someone with a deep affinity toward creeks, streams, rivers, and waterfalls, this resonated with me and gave me a new way of thinking about them. kas

Humans have just arrived

May it continue to be a world of trees...living trees to keep us and the planet alive.  kas

Be Yourself

Doing the best I can on this one as it's something I aspire toward.  kas

Fit the World To Women

Yes, to this for women who are self-aware and determined to throw off the stereotypes imposed on them by a misogynist mindset.  We know it when we see it.  kas

Deep Conversations

May you have as many deep conversations as you desire!  kas

Doors

Where are your doors?  I'm becoming aware of mine.  May we have the courage to see them, open them and walk through to a fuller, saner life.  If you're already there, kudos!  kas

A Hard Lump by Jackleen Holton

“A Hard Lump” by Jackleen Holton Posted: 18 Feb 2020 12:00 AM PST Jackleen Holton A HARD LUMP sprung up on the right side of my neck so I went to the doctor, who patted around the mass, told me it was probably nothing, a cluster of pissed-off cells, a mini-revolt. I started to say the word I feared. No, he said, probably not that, but we’ll run some tests. Just as I thought, he told me after the needle biopsy, the CT scan, just a minor populist bloc. In fact, it looks smaller than before. Go home, rest. Then we’ll do another scan. And after that, because it had begun to throb, a little fist just under my jugular vein, I said I think it wants to do me in, but he shook his head, and then he cut me, pulled out the bloody lump and sewed me back up. I went numb. He told me I might not feel anything for about a year. I tried to speak but my voice came out like a weak wind. After they biopsied it, he called to say that it was after all the thing I’d feared, and that there were surely more pockets of fascist cells. He said we have to go into battle, we’ll use this agent we found in the war. I said I had to think about it. He said don’t think too long. I went home and cried until a sleep like death came and covered me, and a god I didn’t know if I believed in held me in her arms and whispered you have to love it, but I knew I already did because it had broken me open, sent my roots down, it gathered my friends around me, and we wove a shawl of prayers. And I said Jesus, and she nodded even though that’s not her full name. And I said America, that’s what I call my body sometimes, we have to love ourself now, we can’t go back again, we must use this to grow into something so much greater than we’ve ever been. —from Poets Respond February 16, 2020 __________ Jackleen Holton: “John Dean said to President Nixon during the Watergate scandal: ‘We have a cancer within—close to the presidency, that’s growing. It’s growing daily. It’s compounding.’ In the week following Trump’s acquittal by senate Republicans, it is more apparent than ever that the cancer on this presidency has compounded and continues to spread throughout our republic.”

All They Know of Hate

I pull this thought close in and vow to make it my life's work.  It's far easier to say than it is to do but I am determined.  kas

Insanity

I don't think anyone "intentionally" ignores the ones who are.  We get caught up in our own world, our own mindtalk, our own pain, worries, and upsets; not to mention our to-do list and upcoming schedule.  Training one's mind to pay attention in the moment is a very tall order.  Let's give each other the benefit of the doubt and remind ourselves most everyone is doing the best they can. kas

Let Them Be Wrong

All you can do is your best to tell the truth.  We are living in a fruitful time with an abundance of opportunities for inner and outer growth.  May our harvest be our own wellbeing in addition to true liberty and true justice for all. 

Let's Do This

Some think it's too late to save our planet.  I can't let myself believe that although I understand why as we fixate on things having nothing to do with clean air, water, and land to grow our food. The system thinks money is more important.  Nonetheless,  I refuse to give up on humanity.   On a side note, did you know it was Yoko Ono who wrote: "Imagine"?  John Lennon revealed this in later years.  You can hear her sing it at the end of this podcast which is definitely worth a listen. kas

Never Know When The Bus Is Coming

This is the antithesis to the kind of verbiage being flung around these days.  What if being openly loving was more prevalent than being openly hateful?  Imagine!  kas

Become Your Own Authority

This is one I want to tattoo to my arm where I can be reminded of it constantly, especially the part about listening but not losing your own voice.  My upbringing trained me to defer to those perceived to have "authority".  From my child's eyes, this could be anyone other than myself.  Only now do I see this tendency and how it informs and deforms how I approach situations.  Trust yourself without being arrogant.  Listen with humility but go inside and ferret out your own stance.  Don't give away your own authority.  Sometimes this requires living in the tensions of opposing forces.  Again, I say, trust yourself.  You've got this.  kas

Politics

It feels like this is changing.  May we navigate the waters of our differences with goodwill and mutual respect.  kas

What if we stopped?

It's a thought to contemplate.  That being said, I think it's important to appreciate those folks who are busy because they serve the citizens of their community in various generous ways, giving of their time and talent for the greater good.  kas

Yet to Learn the Simple Act of Walking the Earth as siblings

If it were my quote, I'd say like brothers and sisters.  Nonetheless, I get MLK's point.  May we find a way to bridge our differences and forge cooperation, goodwill, and mutual respect.  That is democracy.  kas

We The People

We the People

We the people are broken-hearted.

We the people want fairness from our representatives.

We the people want integrity from our politicians.

We the people think America has always been great but could be so much greater.

We the people speak and sometimes shout truth to power.

We the people welcome dissent.

We the people appreciate vigorous, healthy debate.

We the people encourage all sides to have an equal voice.

We the people respect minorities. 

We the people welcome strangers.

We the people honor the rule of law.

We the people value diversity.

We the people will not be bullied. 

We the people want our representatives to work together for the good of the public.

We the people want true justice, true liberty, 

and equity for all.  

We the people believe democracy is of the people, 

for the people, and by the people.  

We the people are the river.

KAStilwell

Mother

My mother turns 93 today.  I'm so grateful this is the way it's always been with us.  kas

The Decision To Act

This is dedicated to a young woman who turns 19 today.  May all of us remember the fears are paper tigers.  We can act to change things.  We can act to control the way we view our life.  Wishing you tenacity! kas

Perfect Imperfection

This is dedicated to the phenomenal women working their beautiful imperfections perfectly. You give me hope and inspire me.  Happy Birthday to one who knows who she is. My world is better cause you're in it.   kas

Rewires for Protection

It's why it's vital to heal trauma.  kas

Insanity

It's sobering how easily this happens.  Rather than focus on the conversation inside my head, it might be worthwhile to pay attention to those whose path I cross.  kas

Kindness

We're witnessing this in magnificence right now.  How very, very, very hard kindness is.  Everyone is hurt and we're being hurt more by witnessing so much unkindness.  I'm pledging to do my best to dig down deep for it. I'll be in the garden as soon as I can! kas

Reality

There is a caveat to this statement.  Reality is being brought to us via some of the media.  Others are spreading propaganda and lies.  The reality in our country is grim.  We must fight with everything we have to save it from sinking further into tyranny and dictatorship.  I wish I didn't have to write these words. We need a peaceful uprising. kas

Not Selfish but Necessary

And then I remember and follow what my heart is telling me I need unapologetically. (mostly) kas

Learn How To Pack Light

It took me a minute to get this but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the idea I can pack light!  kas

Patriarchy Taught Me

How sad and how true.  Time after time, we pick ourselves up and continue the fight for dignity, equality, and mutual respect.  If you haven't seen Harriet, the movie, I recommend it.  kas

Rather Die Than Forgive

I like to think we're getting better at it as we evolve.  It takes tremendous courage.  kas

Riotous Roots

May we citizens be the same riotous as the roots and burst forth with an overwhelming response to take back our democracy and make it better than it's ever been.  kas