Awareness

Bringing awareness to something enables a number of things. Think about a time when you saw, read or heard something that caused you to think or feel differently.

After my mother left her earthly body, I inherited her goddaughter as mine. Fortunately for me, I spent a lot of time with both of them, together, and saw the rhythm they had. The give and take and the love they shared. It was during one of those visits that I became incredibly annoyed with my then 4-year-old soon-to-be goddaughter because after nearly everything said to her, she replied, “why?”

Exasperated, I asked my mother, why (funny, right?!) does she keep asking “why?”. My mother turned to me and replied as only a mother can, “because she’s learning.”

Ahhhh, that right there. Because she’s learning.

Instantly, I looked at that young child differently. I was made aware of something I didn’t know. I had no children and had not nurtured a young one along their way in such close proximity. She and my mother brought awareness to something that made me respect the question of “why” in a whole new way!  I now understood it as a signal of an opportunity to learn.

Awareness is just that. An opportunity to learn. To see something differently. That may change your mind. That may warm your heart. That may reduce hate. That may welcome love. That may open space for another.

Another perspective.

Another voice.

Another idea.

And as Rev. Dr. Andriette Earl spoke, awareness can create space for healing.

At such a time as this, might we expand the aperture of our awareness and allow learning to feed us? To heal us?

Whether at work or play. Whether with colleagues, friends of family. Whether with those with whom we agree or don’t. Whether with those with whom we agree or disagree.

Awareness costs us nothing except a willingness to learn. Not to prove anyone right or wrong. Only a willingness to see things differently.