[In our Sacred Space Pod last month, Mia shared this beautiful reflection below.]

Before I go to bed at night, I take out my contacts or take off my glasses. In that moment, the world becomes a blur - I must trust my memory as I walk to the bed or pull the covers down. In the morning, I literally can not see a thing, until I put my glasses on. When I do, there is a moment as my eyes adjust and the world comes into focus; in that moment, I feel such gratitude. What if I did not have the means to see more clearly? When I come to the forest, I do not first see the details of the trees, I see the forest, like a wave of green and brown.

As my eyes adjust, I begin to focus more closely. I begin to see the individual trees, then one alone, then the bark, the branch, the bird, an ant - the world of the tree becomes a forest in one. As I look deeper, there is even more to process. So much is like this - a crowd of people for instance. As a woman of color, I often notice first if there is other color (diversity) in the sea of faces, if not, I wonder if that group would be one where I could find connection and safety? I look for the friendly faces and walk that way. Some days, depending on what inner thought I follow that day, I can enter without fear; other days I am not so bold.

Recently, I have been a bit reactive, angry sad hearing/seeing stories of police violence or stories of hate and racism....my heart gets tense, my breath held, head hurts. Last month, I sat with a friend of mine who was head of probation in a nearby county - His father was in probation as well - they work almost side by side with the police department. He began to tell me more of the stories; not simply "the other side" but more of the stories that I asked about - he answered my why's and how's the best he could and I realize that I had filled in the blanks my self without a deeper understanding, accepting at face value headlines and sound bites...staying curious rather than critical; staying in the quest of the question, my focus opened up, my grip on what I thought I knew softened and my mind melted....I move into a moment of the unknown and uncertainty - there are some growing pains as I look for footing. Who is right? Who is wrong? It is more complicated perhaps, not exactly black or white. I am no judge or jury.

I find myself beginning again in some ways; starting fresh, listening deeper, allowing for pause in that space between stimulus and response; Keeping my wisdom, while entering as if for the first time. I come out of the spin of the mind-altering contextual forces and take a breath; I am grateful for this time alive to sit and ponder my thoughts ...

Can I see the world with softer eyes? I think - how can I be kinder today?