You may have noticed that 2020, especially given the isolation involved, has inspired some to reach out and reconnect with those long lost, even if only as a cry in the wilderness hoping for responding echoes. This letter is an attempt to diminish painful realities by increasing the chance of enjoying shared narrative, sustained connection, and meaningful reflection. I have resolved to do a better job of sharing with my community a few of the resources at my disposal to work towards a world that works well for everyone. Please give me any feedback at all that might move me or anyone else in that direction.
Season’s Grittings!
After returning to Texas from California in 2018, Lisa and the children became a part of White Rock Montessori while I worked on consulting, teaching, ongoing projects, and for the Census. We responded to the viral and political pandemics by following all official guidelines religiously, and I began offering online training several times a week in Martial Nonviolence, Peace Practices and family aikido, as well as conflict consultation for leadership, all under the banner of Conflict Done Well. If you’d like to know more or join me online, please make contact and visit ConflictDoneWell.com hosted on the website of my consultancy, Culturesmith.com.
Despite the pun above, there has definitely been more enjoyment than gritting of teeth in returning to my roots in North Texas. We are near my parents after twenty five years, which is a blessing beyond description. The Fall has been lovely, especially with room for all of us and a spacious back yard in which to enjoy the gift of time together. I turned fifty-one last year and am taking stock in what I hope will be a developmentally and archetypally coherent way. We surrendered an amazing, loving community and several dreams before leaving beautiful (in almost every way) but unaffordable CA, and have lost some particularly fine friends to the grave.
Part of me wants very deeply to respond by putting all that I have to offer on the table, no matter the cost, while there still appears to be time. Another part remembers the price we paid last time. I learned down to my toes that thrown seeds die no matter the passion with which they are hurled if the ground and season are not ready for them to flourish, or if there are not enough hands to till the soil, let alone gather in whatever harvest arises. I worry that I know too little of seasons to go around shaking fists, even when full of seeds. I worry that nobody ever truly followed their calling by worrying, and certainly not by admitting in public the darker parts of life and hope. Isn't it said that hard work is always more rewarding than fist-shaking and angst? I yearn for daily co-conspirators and a shared mission. I learn how many ways someone over fifty can be so "overqualified" when seeking employment. I continue to search for teams ready to work together to really make a positive difference in the world. I have helped build them many times and would love to do so again.
Lisa is loving teaching, as ever, and is deeply thankful for her excellent students, colleagues, and the community at White Rock Montessori. We are all grateful for and happy to know the folks we worship with at St. Stephen UMC. The kids have both chosen to continue ballet at Dallas Ballet Center, begun remote Japanese language lessons (Thanks, Kaori Sensei!) every Saturday after Family Aikido, and Huston is in piano lessons with an excellent teacher. Most of all, we continue to be stretched between profound gratitude for Grandparents nearby and desperately missing our fabulous kin and chosen families on the coasts whom, like so many people this year, we have not been able to squeeze in way too long. Soon. Soon, we keep telling each other.
In the end this is, like most of my messages, a love letter, a murmered...soon...soon, and a promise that we will draw closer somehow to the persons, both physical and imaginal, who matter most. Please help us not to forget each other despite extended absences.
How are you, and what are you up to?
Brandon Williamscraig
brandon at culturesmith dot com
P.S. By popular demand, this initial letter was mostly personal. As promised, more explicitly helpful offerings will follow. In the meantime, thanks to Richard Page for the excellent resources below. I recommend them, in particular, to the participants in my recent class on the book White Fragility:
Deep conversation on the coup attempt and how to create bridges instead of actions that break us apart: https://belonging.berkeley.edu/askobi
Also 12 videos on creating solidarity from co-panelist Prof. Ian Haney Lopez at:
Race-Class-Academy.com
Also please consider https://www.hbo.com/specials/between-the-world-and-me