Happy Monday, Wordos! I have some positivity quotes to share with you today, but first I wanted to get a few things off of my chest.
I have a lot on my mind this week but I’m having trouble finding the words to convey it. Ever feel that way?
First, I wanted to touch on the name change of this Monday series. I initially entitled my quote series “Monday Mantras”, hoping to share inspirational quotes to inspire writers and readers alike. As I pondered on it after the first post went live, I realized I didn’t know the source of the word “mantra”. There was a niggling feeling in my brain that perhaps there was a deeper meaning to the word beyond something akin to catchphrase, which is how I had defined it.
A Google search confirmed my suspicions. “Mantra” isn’t a casual word to be thrown around. No, in fact, it is a sacred word. Per Wikipedia, a mantra “is a sacred utterance, a numinous sound, a syllable, word or phonemes, or group of words in Sanskrit believed by practitioners to have religious, magical or spiritual powers in Hinduism.”
I quickly realized that in search of an alliteration, I had selected a word that I didn’t have a right to use so casually. Upon realization of my mistake, I have changed this series to “Monday Motivation”. I didn’t want to just sweep this under the rug, however. I wanted to show that as good as an ally I try to be, I still have a lot to learn.
Over the past year, I have been trying to educate myself on my own privilege and cultural appropriation. It is important to me to learn how to be the best ally possible. I am not perfect, nor will I ever be. But I promise that I will continue to put in the work to be better.
Another topic I want to touch upon is the state of affairs in my country. I don’t often make political statements, because I know I am not well-versed enough in the complexities of politics and social issues to do so. However, I know that silence can be viewed as acceptance or support of the wrongdoers.
I want to say unequivocally that I believe in equality, justice, and progress. These last four years have been like watching a horror show, except that it’s all real. I am excited beyond words for this week’s Inauguration and hopeful that my country can finally move forward, rather than backward. There is much work to be done, changes to be made, and justice to be sought.
Thank you for your patience with me as I sort through how to explain my profound beliefs. It is hard for me to find the right words as it is, but a fear of saying the wrong thing constantly holds me back. I’m working toward finding my voice and appreciate your support along the way.
Now, on to the positivity quotes!
From one Wordo to another, thanks for tuning in! See you next time!
