Some thoughts about being away from the U.S. right now

“All successful life is
Adaptable,
Opportunistic,
Tenacious,
Interconnected, and
Fecund.
Understand this.
Use it.
Shape God.”

-Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

This quote is from Parable of the Sower, a book by science fiction writer, Octavia Butler. It’s one of the verses of a philosophy developed by its main character, Lauren Olamina, a young Black girl living in Southern California in the 2020s. Published in 1993, this book saw so clearly the problems and struggles we would be facing today. Any attempt by me to explain it wouldn’t adequately capture the power of it. But suffice it to say, this book has had a profound impact on how I think about our collective future.

On the morning of June 24th, I was sitting having a coffee in a train station in Innsbruck (it was still nighttime in the U.S.) and I remember feeling this intense gratitude for my life as it was. I felt so lucky to be able to travel this way and be in the presence of so much beauty. It surprised me because I often struggle with gratitude, but was welcome.

Hours later, I arrive back in Munich, check my phone and see the news about the Dobbs decision. And it felt like waking up from a dream. I mostly felt guilty. I felt I shouldn’t be flitting around Europe while there is so much suffering going on in my home country. And the reality is I won’t personally be affected by this change, but I know many who don’t have the privileges I have will suffer greatly. And I had to sit with that for a while.

But after that, I asked myself “How can I align my thoughts, intentions, and actions with the world I want to exist?” Because I can be outraged, wallow in guilt, go to protests, and post (which is all absolutely valid), but after that’s faded, the question becomes how do I help build the world I want to exist in a sustainable way. (To be clear, I also saw many of the people I follow on the internet speaking and thinking in the same way. )

I want to see a world where anyone that needs an abortion can have one. I want a world that anyone that wants to have a child is adequately supported in raising that child. I want a world where people have autonomy over their bodies and their lives.

So what can I do? For now, I’ve set up a monthly donation to an abortion fund. And I will keep doing my best to find those opportunities for sustainable action. And when I mess up or do things that aren’t aligned with my values, I will correct.

I cannot pretend that the chaos, violence, and conflict isn’t happening (as much as I might want to) because that keeps us in it. I have to acknowledge it and then point my intention towards solutions and imagine new possibilities. So that is what I’ll try to do.