Seasons of Transformation

Being a coach of community-building connectedness, steeped in identity-based work uplifting diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, (DEIB), and an educator who aligns with the rhythms of nature—the turning of the seasons serve as a catalyst for reflection. I notice myself tuning in and observing where I have been. I am releasing and letting go, as the autumnal leaves fall away, decompose and fertilize the grounds that will bring new life in Spring 2021. I am intentionally propelling myself to break free of the binary of "either/or" and embrace the "both/and" framework for staying awake and aware to contemplate how I am showing up in this world. I have been asking myself key questions in this current seasonal transition as it has been like no other. These questions and subsequently the answers that come to me when I sit long enough in the stillness, are beginning to guide me into the autumn that will lead to winter in the Northern hemisphere in this transformative year 2020.

As someone who has had the privilege to sustain working remotely throughout the effects of Covid 19, I have had the opportunity to adhere to the knowledge gained in my public health training. I engage in health campaigns (e.g. #MaskUpShorewood #MaskUpMilwaukee #MaskUpMonday) and pay close attention to the care required for community health and well being to be protected. Now beyond the Spring 2020 semester where I pivoted to teach online (synchronous learning) in a period of less than two weeks, I am experiencing a reflection point as a work from home (#WFH) parent supporting two children (in 4th grade and K5) who are virtually learning. I question and look inward to sustain nurturing my strengths and values. I seek to elevate my inherent "go with the flow" #adaptability, my innate ability to be #strategic, approaching life with joyful #optimism, calling in my #authenticity, being a champion for #equity, embodying #love, and finding moments to express #gratitude.

I ask myself these questions:

• How will I as a white, US citizen, cisgender, queer-loving, mama show up and continue to stay awake amidst the righteous rebellions in the streets and the C-Suites?
• What will my sustenance be?
• Where will I cultivate growth, expansion and places to level-up within to radiate the truth of who I am everyday in my life journey?

That brings me to a story of how this initial LinkedIn publication was presented as a "challenge" for me back in December 2019, which as you might imagine was a radically different moment in our rapidly evolving world. In December 2019, I was seated at Rise & Grind at the Sherman Phoenix waiting for a meeting with a colleague when I was graced with the opportunity to briefly exchange in co-working space near Clarene Mitchell and Rachael Busch. Clarene shared with enthusiasm the possibilities for publishing an article on LinkedIn and promptly encouraged me to take my LinkedIn profile to the next level with a publication. I am someone who has an unconscious propensity to default to perfectionism (a characteristic of white supremacy culture as described in the works of Drs. Tema Okun and the late Kenneth Jones) when writing and creating content. Couple this perfectionism with my spirited energy to be highly competitive with myself and my tendency to be a self-prescribed overachiever, I figured that I would immediately dive into this challenge without hesitation making it a "new years resolution" to post in January 2020. However, with all the best intentions I was stifled by the fear of not knowing what to make of my brand and how to encapsulate my multi-passionate life, therefore the fear became larger than the possibility. I have learned through this pandemic that love has to be greater than fear. We come to a better world by not splitting ourselves rather embracing the totality of who we are (e.g. integrating the personal and the professional). So here I am today on the brink of a new month, a new season, and a new opportunity to share what the seasons of transformation mean to me integrating the totality of who I am and affirming all that I share with the world. I have carved out time and brought the mindset to take a risk and publish what I see as my inner nature. Typically pre-pandemic these are what I would call my morning musings. Embracing the realities of my life, they are daily reflections now that scratch the surface of self-sustenance amidst a pandemic, uplift care as well as love in our chosen bubble of communities, and acknowledge gratitude for the virtual invitations to re-engage with LinkedIn as platform for storytelling.

Through this process of publishing I am grateful for self and community accountability. Reaching this goal of writing an article on LinkedIn came to life due to several factors. Most recently Sasha Parsons through her work with Marquette University's Institute for Women's Leadership convened a virtual LinkedIn training series with Clarene for the community and students where I have been working on homework for my LinkedIn About Section. Earlier in the month Clarene hosted guest Thomas Mitchell on the LinkedIn Power Moves fb Episode 18: LinkedIn Publishing 101 in that virtual fb live I proposed to Kelly Smith that we could be accountability buddies with the intent to publish our first articles in the month of September...mission accomplished.

When I think of a seed being planted in December 2019 and now coming to harvest in the near dawn of October 2020 I reflect on my gratitude for the focus, the encouragement, and the invitation to explore what it means to publish on LinkedIn. Most importantly as we traverse the seasons of change we are called to integrate the truth of our personal and professional worlds. We no longer live in separation rather our homes and careers collide more dramatically in the new ways. We envision moving forward together, yet for the time being in most cases we are staying put. I believe that being present to my children witnessing the changes and transformation while nurturing butterflies this summer gave me hope and inspiration that we will all once again find our wings to fly.