Sheltering in place – Week 10. Meditating more than I was before, walking a lot, and sleeping on one time zone. I am also really looking at my emails – clicking on those links and reading those attachments – reflecting on life, the world, and the universe. Deep diving into my mind – my thoughts, my aspirations. Change is afoot. It’s the end of the world as we know it…
Speaking of this moment in time, my colleague, Jim Brown, one of the most wonderful superintendents I ever had the pleasure of working with, sent me a link to an article in Lion’s Roar. The article was written by the Lion’s Roar staff in 2017 (!) and was entitled, What’s a Bardo? They wrote, “Bardo is the Tibetan term for the intermediate state or gap we experience between death and our next rebirth…. In that momentary space of freedom, the fresh perception of something new and awake may suddenly arise.”
Hmm. “[T]he intermediate state or gap we experience between death and our next rebirth…” This moment is a bardo. It is one of loss and of newness, of sadness and of possibility. It is the multiple-choice answer ‘E’ – all of the above. And, we need to ‘mind the gap.’ Stay awake.
I have been invited to comment and to pontificate (?) on this time in our history. Via podcast and Zoom interview, virtual summit, and webinar – you name it, folks are doing it. ‘Never let a good crisis go to waste,’ someone said. ‘Let’s make sure things are different on the other side.’ Our classroom pedagogy, our use of technology, and more – we have the opportunity to shift on many fronts. AND, if you know me, you know I am thinking about the psychology of things – the emotional side of change. This isn’t an ‘either or’ proposition– it’s a ‘both and’ moment. As they say on Monday Night Football (sorta)…”Are you ready for some feelings?”
John Vasconcellos, a former CA State Senator gave us words for our roles at times like this. Speaking of change, he said, “We must become both hospice workers to support the peaceful dying and letting go of our traditional culture, and midwives to gently usher in our emerging culture of trust and mutual regard.”
You’re right – as an educator or a nurse or non-profit leader you didn’t ‘sign up' for being a hospice worker or a midwife, yet here we are – donning the garb, living the part out loud… and it’s required of us to do so. We are in the bardo. Our familiar patterns are no more. We need to support others to let go of the past and to move into the future with as much compassion as we can. Growing into bigger selves – ones who help others bear the losses and bring ourselves into a healthy future. Join me.
If you have any questions, comments, or topic suggestions, please feel free to email me at Jennifer@jenniferabrams.com. I look forward to hearing from you!
*Jennifer Abrams, “In the Bardo", June 1, 2020,https://jenniferabrams.com/in-the-bardo/
Photo by AHMED HINDAWI on Unsplash
