How You Drive Says A Lot

Today I watched a video account of a white man from Maine sharing about how in the last week family members of his were kidnapped by ice. His account was articulate, informative, directive, caring, and moving.

There is more to be discussed, but today I want to discuss: how we do anything, is how we do everything. This should be heeded when deciding with whom to be in romantic or friendship relationship, choosing whom to do business, and determining whether a society, culture, or country is just, ethical, or moral. (I do find that most moral people don't need to broadcast their morality because it's obvious in everything they do).

After watching this video on the Instagram platform, that I'm trying in earnest to leave, I made tea, journalled, meditated, fed and walked the dogs, and jogged before sitting down to write these words.

This message came to me on the jog as I alternated between running and walking every 30 seconds. I noticed I was more jumpy this morning, even though I wasn't tearful or noticeably physically distraught by witnessing the trauma described in the video.

The jog helped me connect to the physical effect of learning of rampant evil in my society. As I jogged, I was on edge, looking for
"these" people. I even flipped a house and a car off - the house because how their yards proclaimed their selfishness and lack of neighborliness. And then the car was speeding through the neighborhood - thinking only of themselves and not the people they might harm while driving carelessly.

My judgement switch was ON! I stand by my judgements, but what do I do with my judgements. I was joining in us and them. Many wise people talk about when you work to outgrow something you need to carry forward the valuable, helpful things you learned; you need to transcend and include. It's okay to critique but it's not okay to other.

As my mind considered this and my feet went left, right, left, right, I could see my othering.

How I drive matters. How I do anything is how I do everything.

I listened to some Gabor Mate yesterday and he discussed with Tim Ferris about the different between anger and rage. In short, anger is helpful - you feel it in the moment and it helps you make boundaries. Rage is the result of unprocessed and suppressed anger - it comes out later, sideways in non-helpful ways for unrelated things.

Cultures are evident in how we drive. Wonder how you're really doing? Notice how you drive. I know I’ve got some work to do.

-esb

I'm so, so grateful you're here. Would you send positive vibes, pray for me, check in with me on this journey of doing this work. It's not easy, but I love it and I think it's important.

I'm nervous about offering my first ever Spring Theme Retreat, April 5th, carrying on the important work of the New Year's Theme Retreat. The process is important for me and I think it's important for the broader community - part of my contribution to make our society healthier and more loving; yes fighting evil. At times, I feel my voice doesn't matter and that I can't find the people that need to hear my message. Would you, please, do the generous work of contributing to my calling by thinking who you know who might benefit from my work? I'd love to have a packed Spring Theme Retreat - to pause together in community and receive encouragement and insight to help us go through these next days, weeks, and months well.

Thank you, thank you.

May you always see the blessing.

Questions for Contemplation:

• What does the manner in which you drive reveal about you?

• How are you connecting to your neighbors and looking out for them?

• What are you doing about the evil you witness around you?

• What is your relationship to anger, rage, judgement, and othering?

May you always see the blessing, beloveds.

-esb

P.S. - Thanks for being here. I’d love to hear how you’re doing!

P.P.S. - The art and information in these emails is my copyright, unless otherwise indicated/credited.

P.P.P.S. - Here’s a photo from my a time communing in nature: