Hello Yoga-Friends ~ O’ glorious GratiTuesday. Here in New England, sitting outdoors, under a gentler autumn sun. I am thoroughly enjoying this afternoon’s warm, dry air and light breezes. As well, I am struck by the perfection of this one moment in my life experience. Safe at home and healthy. The air, clean and sweet in my lungs. The occasional dog barking in the distance, breaking an otherwise quiet reverie. Peace and peaceful.

Around me I watch nature’s critters preparing for the colder seasons ahead. Squirrels caching their larder in the lawn. Chipmunks burrowing into the flower beds. Flocks of small brown birds alighting en masse among the turning leaves of a grand old oak, resting briefly there before rising into the cerulean sky, heading – yup, you guessed it – south.

How blessed am I. Not a question. An acknowledgment. And one I do not take for granted. It is not lost on me – in spite of my modest rented home and meager bank account – that I am both wealthy and privileged.

Privilege: Unearned access to social power based on membership in a dominant social group.”

usfca.edu

Recent events – the loss of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and the Breonna Taylor Grand Jury Indictments, to name but two – bring the issue of privilege into sharp focus once again. This isn’t going away. And for that, I am grateful.

If you are interested to learn more about privilege, consider exploring University of San Francisco “White Privilege Resource Guide.” https://laurelblossomyoga.com/guides.usfca.edu/white-privilege-resource-guide#s-lg-box-24221363

Becoming aware of privilege should not be viewed as a burden or source of guilt, but rather, an opportunity to learn and be responsible so that we may work toward a more just and inclusive world.”

usfca.edu

When you decide to take committed anti-racist action, consider the “11 Anti-Racist Actions You Can Take at Work—Today and Every Day,” found at https://laurelblossomyoga.com/www.themuse.com/advice/anti-racist-actions-at-work, and/or look into Seven Stones Leadership Trainings, such as “Heal Collective Trauma & Embody Anti-Racism.” https://laurelblossomyoga.com/www.sevenstonesleadership.com/

Oh, yeah… and one more thing… Vote.

As always, each Tuesday we invite one another to express one thing – in the comments field – for which you are grateful, and/or Share that sentiment as a post on your favorite social media site. It needn’t be lofty and can certainly reflect something we usually take for granted. I’ll go first… I AM so happy and grateful to be able to vote. Now your turn. I AM so happy and grateful now that/for: ______________________ #laurelblossomyoga #omofficeyoga #corporateyoga #corporatewellness #virtualyoga #vitualmeditation #reiki #om #mindufulness #gratitude #gratituesday #privilege #rbg #breonnataylor #antiracist #vote

Hello Yoga-Friends ~ Since mid-March, my GratiTuesdays have begun with hosting live online guided meditation sessions. As our virtual meditation community grows, we enjoy sharing ‘what’s up’ before logging off. During this morning’s conversation I learned about another online program. This other online program addresses systemic racism and how white people can choose to embark upon the re-education journey to becoming antiracist.

The upcoming online event, “Introduction to Being Antiracist,” will be hosted by Kim Crayton, this coming Saturday, June 27th, 2020. There are different start times posted depending on location and time zone. This event is specifically intended for “‘white folx who are struggling with where and how to start their antiracist journey.” Yeahmmm… that’d be me. I was particularly drawn to the registration website landing page language suggesting there is a path for “minimizing the potential for harm your whiteness has on others, as you learn.”

Dr. Crayton – PhD Business Administration, Technology Entrepreneurship – is a business strategist, antiracist economist, the founder of the #causeascene movement, and a passionate advocate for diversity, inclusion, and safe spaces in tech. In other words, she has a reputation for successfully affecting positive change for systemic racism in the corporate sphere by identifying hidden barriers to inclusion. Her leadership coaching and public speaking engagements strive for honest communication about these traditionally touchy subjects.

I like the focus on whiteness, because I feel like in general when we’re talking about race and ethnicity the focus tends to be on, you know, people of color, and whiteness just kind of is invisible.”

Please note, after you have registered for this online event – it’s only $30 USD! – there is preparatory ‘homework’ to complete before logging on. The ‘Homework’ links directly to the “Seeing White”. This series is Season 2 of the Scene On Radio podcast, hosted by John Biewen, Audio Program Director at Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University. Again, I say, the discussions during the event will not make sense unless you have listened to this entire series. Do your homework!

Here. I’ll make it easy for you and embed a link to the first episode in season 2, “Turning the Lens“: https://www.sceneonradio.org/episode-31-turning-the-lens-seeing-white-part-1/

I’ve already listened to this episode and was struck by a comment made by Chenjerai Kumanyika, of Rutgers University’s Department of Journalism and Media Studies. The podcast host notes that white people are often challenged to see their whiteness and its embedded privilege and this series hopes to shine a light on that blindness. Mr. Kumanyika responds with, “I like the focus on whiteness, because I feel like in general when we’re talking about race and ethnicity the focus tends to be on, you know, people of color, and whiteness just kind of is invisible.” Dang! Nailed it.

All those interested in learning how to be antiracist, please consider attending Kim Crayton’s online event on Saturday. Or, at very least, listen to all of Scene On Radio’s Season 2, “Seeing White.” I’m off to listen to the second episode in this series right now…

As always, each Tuesday we invite one another to express one thing – in the comments field – for which you are grateful, and/or Share that sentiment as a post on your favorite social media site. It needn’t be lofty and can certainly reflect something we usually take for granted. I’ll go first… I AM so happy and grateful for conversations that lead to personal inquiry and mindful evolution. Now your turn. I AM so happy and grateful now that/for: _____________________

#laurelblossomyoga #omofficeyoga #corporateyoga #corporatewellness #virtualyoga #vitualmeditation #reiki #om #gratitude #gratituesday #listenlearnact #antiracist #KimCrayton #causeascene #johnbiewin #sceneonradio #seeingwhite #ChenjeraiKumanyika