Good Morning, NJAMC Friends -
I wrote this stream of consciousness post on facebook last night as a way to
process my reaction to the Brussels attack. My husband said I should share it
with all of you. I feel shy about it since it's not polished or edited, just a
rambling outpouring from my heart. For what it's worth...
Jennie
Love. Love is my weapon in the face of fear and hate. My response to the terror
attacks these two days has been to love more and love harder, to picture my
heart like an opening rose when I felt myself shutting down. I tried especially
to love the foreigners, the immigrants, the internationals, and the formerly
incarcerated human beans that I see every day at an urban community college. I
forgave someone an offense that bothered me. I forgave myself for two mistakes
I made at work. I was kind to myself in a state of emotional and physical
exhaustion instead of demanding more productivity. I was patient when I wanted
to snap. I went for a walk and looked hard at nature growing and dying around
me. I reminded myself with each step that I am part of everything I see, the
death and the birth, connected to all. I accepted a sweet compliment without
the usual downplaying and felt love for the giver. I meditated on peace and
safety for myself and for my community. I counseled two people in great pain
and "saw" them, helping them to see themselves, in turn. I said, I see your
kindness, your motivation, your hard work, your intelligence, and your
exhaustion at trying so hard to succeed against personal and social odds. I
said, this pain you are in is a comma, not a period. I sat with them in their
fatigue, depression, and heartache, teary-eyed together at how hard it is
sometimes to be human. I passed the Kleenex and gave hugs. I told one young man
that I could see that he would be a tremendous man in his future. I told a
woman that her kids were lucky to have a mom working so hard to get them out of
poverty and domestic violence to a better life. Take that, ISIS. LOVE is
bigger, louder, and stronger, and you lose.
_____________________________
Jennifer Chiaramonti, MSEd, NCC, LPC
Counselor, Assistant Professor
Community College of Philadelphia
Northeast Regional Center - Room 102M
12901 Townsend Road
Philadelphia, PA 19154
Phone: 215-972-6241
Email: jchiaramonti@xxxxxxx
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