Last week, I wrote in my newsletter:
“One phrase I've seen many times over the past few weeks in the wake of the killing of George Floyd and global protests against anti-black racism is ‘listening, learning, reflecting.’
The reference to reflection always catches my attention because it is a process that is dear to me and has become the focus of my learning, work, and personal development. It is front and centre in every talk I give about journaling and I always describe it this way:
’Reflection is at the core of the work we do in our journals. It's 'thinking with a purpose' and it's more than just recording events and experiences as they occur, although that's a big part of it! Reflection is also about making sense of those events and deciding what to do about them. In that way, it is an active, intentional process.’
Simply put, reflection anticipates action. It's a continual process of recognizing our experiences, teasing the lessons from them, and actively applying what we've learned to create new and better experiences. It's about thoughtful, intentional movement that takes into account what came before and what needs to be accomplished going forward.
It takes effort and practice, but it's a skill each of us can develop and put to good use. There are many elements of reflection that offer practical guidance, such as gathering lots of information from a wide variety of sources with an open mind and without immediately drawing conclusions, considering events from many different perspectives, and examining the ways our own biases and assumptions influence our actions and reactions.
Our journals are here for us in this moment -- to grapple with uncomfortable thoughts, try new ideas on for size, and visualize a different future for our communities. They're here for us to make plans for action, record our progress, and make new plans. They're here to encourage us, motivate us, and move us forward.
I don't live in the United States. I was born, raised, and still live in Canada where we have our own shameful history of racism. Systemic anti-black racism also exists here. The events of the past several weeks have made it clear to me that I have not listened, learned, or reflected enough about the devastating effects of systemic anti-black racism. I need and want to do more to hold myself accountable to my beliefs about social justice and equality. To do so requires committed, sustained reflection that includes action. I have been seeking out meaningful ways to contribute to and participate in anti-racism efforts in my community and will continue to do so. These are some of the books I'll be reading as I continue to listen and learn:
The Skin We're In by Desmond Cole
Policing Black Lives by Robyn Maynard
How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
I also found this thread on how to be an ally by Mireille Cassandra Harper informative and action-oriented.”
If you’d like to share your thoughts or any resources you've found helpful, I am eager to talk and would love to hear from you. You can leave a comment below or contact me by email anytime. I'll look forward to chatting with you.
