Lisa for Real

088. The opposite of senseless consumption

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Releasing the consumer-driven sides of us means that there is a release of finding fulfillment in things that others (companies and individuals) create.

Releasing the consumer side of us means releasing our identity in the things that we buy.

Where do we find fulfillment then? What part of our identity is amplified when we release the impulse to consume.

What identity remains with us then?

The opposite of the consumer is the creator.

Mothers, creating life, are inherently creators.

The creators in us amplify ourselves.

But as creators, aren’t we reliant on consumers?

In a capitalistic economy, yes, if we want to make money from our creations.

But what if we create with non-attachment to other’s reaction to our creation? What if we create and nurture the creation, put it on in the world and allow the world to embrace it?

What if only we know how to create the things we create? What if only I was meant to mother this specific piece of writing to the world?

What if the opposite of senseless consumption is mindful creation? Through mindful creation, we can foster more mindful consumption.

084. Stronger together

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We are stronger together than divided.

This applies to all kinds of relationships including parenting, friendships, teams at work and community.

Communities have differing views. Each person enters with their own set of experiences and their own lens and beliefs based on those experiences.

When the differences are stark and perhaps dark, it may seem it is easier to not associate and avoid. This weakens the chain of the community.

Absent of emotional or physical abuse and harm, community is worth saving. Finding the common ground, the common beliefs and bringing empathy to the conversation will make us stronger together.

075. Forget being a heroine

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The word “heroine” is the female gendered version of the word “hero.”

Anytime there is a word that comes from a male version, it’s an opportunity to pause. In choosing the word heroine, whose story are we really in?

The hero saves the day, and many times, he saves a damsel in distress.

Using the word heroine, who are we saving? I oftentimes see the word heroine as the word for a woman who takes back her own sovereignty and saves herself. But the word still centers a male perspective while there is no male protagonist.

Let’s choose a different word – changemaker, culture maker, visionary, badass, activist, artist, revolutionist. What’s your pick?

070. What do you stand for?

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When the bride comes down the aisle, we stand. When an elder comes into the room, we stand. Sometimes we stand before the most important person at dinner sits down.

Standing is a sign of respect, of reverence.

Standing activates our bodies to pay attention to what is before us.

How can we use standing to stand for ourselves? For our principles? To activate our bodies to move out of stagnation?

The first step is not a step at all but it is to stand.

068. The nature of rest

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Animals need to rest.

And no one has to tell them.

They instinctually know.

It is built into their senses. Into their survival.

Rest is required if they want to escape predators, birth babies or survive winter.

Mothers need to rest. Its in our DNA.

But somewhere in history, someone planted the seed that rest is for the wicked, for the bad mothers who don’t do enough.

Probably about the same time that the village was taken from the mother.

Human mothers stopped resting. After producing life, they were expected to keep producing, giving and generating.

But with what reserves? From where?