38. Reconciliation

Fire


Water

Artwork by:

Meg Vellejos-McCoy at innerlifecreations.com.

Day 39 of 2022 and Day 2260 of her Daily Painting Practice.

What if instead of focusing on things in opposition to each other, we saw relationship within a unitary whole?

Our western worldview is formed from ancient Greek philosophers’ ideas, then haphazardly modified by those in power, who intend to perpetuate their status.

Love and hate are often presented in opposition to each other and we’re led to believe that if there isn’t love for an idea, then we should default to hate. No, that’s not the only answer. Our politics reflect our human inclination to seek information that confirms what we already believe. This is called confirmation bias. Media reporting only one biased side of the political spectrum is courting those with that same bias.

Instead of seeking confirmation of what I already believe, I explore new ways of thinking about complex issues like the education of our children about how race has been taught in school. The idea that I was misinformed in my education — that the systemic impact of slavery on the development of the United States was downplayed at best or covered up at worst — makes me very uncomfortable. It challenges important, foundational assumptions about who I am in relation to who we are as a nation. Discomfort is not fatal, people! Let’s explore that discomfort and look to reconcile our actual history with where we are today. That may be the path to fulfilling the promise that “all men are created equal.”

I challenge myself, moment by moment and day after day, to seek connection between the two things I was taught to see as opposites.