Welcome
It’s difficult not to be so self-aware as to be completely embarrassed, but here goes. I’m writing, or rather aspire to begin writing, so welcome to this little experiment. I am embarking on an effort to be more intentionally reflective on some of the work I have done, the work I am going through, and the work yet to be done.
I have a rather difficult relationship with work. I am at once critical of it, consumed by it, and invested in seeing it change for the better. I’ve come of age in a place and at a time where how we relate to work/ labor/ our jobs has never been more complicated. From the foreclosure crisis to Occupy, the Dot Com boom to the Gig Economy, who we are and what society suggests we ought to be has never been as loud and unclear as it is today.
The do-gooders of the world - I have been told - should toil away earning little, because if you’re working on the problems of the world, what a joy it is to have meaning in your work. Become a nurse or a teacher if you’re a bleeding heart, but don’t you dare complain about money. On the other end of the spectrum, we have the business-minded folks who sell their souls to the man. In exchange, they make boatloads of money, but lead purposeless lives. I reject this spectrum and have spent a good amount of time exploring and wondering what the world would look like, or could look like, when we throw away these two worldviews.
At a moment in history where so much seems so backwards how can we think about moving the needle, because it has to move? The question becomes who moves it, in which direction, and by how much? We are grappling with centuries-long unresolved racial injustice, sexism, global pandemic(s), Crypto-Bro’s, wealth stratification, food insecurity, automation, and a politics so broken it would make the cast of The West Wing contemplate an armed rebellion. All of this against the backdrop of what the entire scientific community has concluded is the beginning of the end of “normal” as we know it. As if any of the numerous crises were not difficult enough to contend with, we have to address them while the planet burns. Many of these crises are, in fact, made (much) worse by the ongoing feet dragging of our local, regional, state, federal, and global leaders.
Where does this leave us?
I hope to use this here platform as a place to share what I am doing and thinking about, to shed light on some of the things I have learned over the years, to feature stories of people, communities, businesses, and efforts that inspire me and help me keep my battery charged. I hope to share some tips and tricks, resources, and gather more along the way.
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Disclaimer
I am keenly aware that what the world is in no short supply of is the opinion of straight white men. I am here first and foremost for reflection and in an effort to build a practice. I hope that some of my experiences can be helpful and that by sharing my failures, successes, and trepidations, it might create space for others to more fully see themselves reflected in an otherwise bleak world.