I’ve declared my presidential candidacy. I felt moved to do so from a raised platform on a college campus, overlooking an empty soccer field in the distance. I made a promise, to an invisible crowd, “there will be a cat in every household!” An advisor immediately told me afterward, “that may turn some voters off.”
They say dog people are happier than cat people and this might be because dogs shout I LOVE YOU daily for no reason. Cats say you are ok and we have reached a place of mutual respect, and this is a small miracle. I think these two methods actually balance each other out and we are stronger together.
Let’s embrace balanced mutual respect over I LOVE EVERY ATOM OF YOU. So, vote for me, and for starters you get a cat. From there, we move to composting, transformation, and unity and diversity as one.
Composting
We are all carbon. Isn’t this unifying? I learned so at a composting workshop. In compost, a blend of life forms exchange and process the shared environment, creating a holistic matter workshop. This is more of a we than an us and them movement. Species and gender are a non-issue; they simply work together.
Emotional composting
Today, at work, emotional composting became a hot topic. I think I started it, using this phrase, which I made up, though it was inspired by qigong. It sparked excitement and a sense of wonder. This could be good! How do we do it?
We do it like compost. Keep turning things over, add water and air, new input, evolve, stay engaged in the process. Let old stuff die and be transformed. Churn resentments into neutrality.
Emotional regulation is good for our ecosystem as individuals and as a community. We can make the dirt within work if we are willing to be less reactionary with each other. If we can emotionally regulate, we risk less stagnation of positions, and coming from places of injury and defensiveness.
Community through all-inclusive bathrooms
Speaking of unity and carbon-based forms of life, I went into the everybody bathroom again. I wondered who would be there. This is a place where all genders are invited, specific and non-binary. It’s a group setting with private stalls.
For the first time, I sensed another’s presence. I heard some sniffling a few doors down. I tried to determine the gender. It seemed a little bit masculine. Could it be? No more sounds. Until someone began washing hands. I had to get out in time to see who was there. I got out and saw what looked like a person. Could have been him, her, they, or them. We didn’t say hi or wave. They dried their hands and left. This was at 10:15 on a Wednesday.
For good compost, the speaker said, “you want them to be having a party.” Cared for compost has a high number of very happy bugs. You can also add surprising things like cat hair, dryer lint, vacuum bag contents. It can get up to 150 degrees on the inside.
All living things must process energy in order to stay alive.
We are all carbon. Let’s party.
boy these just keep getting better and better! that was great! and the photos worked really well too- and the import, the sentiment, the truth, was all right here and compellingly inviting: nice job! run the next one by me, for instance, and I will pull out the one punctuation funny before we hit the presses. yes, that’s my addition to the compost pile! really very good. you should be getting out to a much bigger audience. I see it happening….
Thanks! Yes, there is always some little thing that gets past me. I get excited and distracted when I do these. Then I hit publish.
For sure you have my vote! This is what I’ve been waiting for!!!!
Awesome! Thanks, Laurie!
You know, this one hit a big resounding chord for me like no other. I think you know what I mean. You are a gifted gal and a poet who shows it like no other as thoughts and connections unfold and become quite real and relevant. I vote for you and your cats too. Folding and Unfolding daily. Life will always be dressed according to the day’s goal.
Thank you, Sally, I am glad you approve! Also it’s cool that this one hit a big chord for you- thanks for letting me know, and I’ll happily take your vote : )