On Value
Value added is value added.
In this complex, terrorized, and terrorizing world, it’s difficult to know how to offer something of “real” value.
To me, the answer is to just offer whatever we can—there is no gift too small for a world in so much need.
Maybe we gift dollars.
Maybe we gift our attention to those with the most to teach us.
Excerpt from “Home” by Warsan Shire:
[...] i want to go home, but home is the mouth of a shark home is the barrel of the gun and no one would leave home unless home chased you to the shore unless home told you to quicken your legs leave your clothes behind crawl through the desert wade through the oceans drown save be hunger beg forget pride your survival is more important no one leaves home until home is a sweaty voice in your ear saying leave, run away from me now i don't know what i’ve become but i know that anywhere is safer than here
Offering value to others may take the form of making and sharing works of creative art that help people feel supported, transported, taught. Should these be big and important works of art? Yes, and, as my generation likes to say.
Yes, symphonies—novels—murals—street performances, i.e. things with Big Audiences,
and encouraging sticky notes, funny new memes, unpublished ephemera shared with friends, Tuesday night collages, good-enough homemade pie, poems written in a memo app on the bus and texted to someone, i.e. things with small audiences.
We may support a library, rescue an animal, attend a protest, raise our sons above toxic masculinity, show someone a constellation, correct a cleft palate. Search for the missing and murdered. Distract a distressed elder who is living with dementia. Ask a little girl “What do you like to do?” instead of telling her “Your dress is so pretty!”
Whether we like it or not, now is the time we’re living in. We have value to offer. It’s tempting to cower. But it’s crucial that we keep offering our gifts.
Writing Challenge
An epistle is a letter or written communication. Traditionally, an epistolary poem may begin with “Dear ….” and address a “you”—the recipient of the letter. These days it could be in the form of a voice memo, email, text message, etc.
Is there something—an object, memory, feeling—that you would never sell at any price?
If so, write an epistolary poem explaining to a potential buyer why it’s not for sale.
P.S. While cowering isn’t the best use of one’s energy, rest is different; rest is vital.
When we are distracted, attention fragmented and worries magnified, it is much easier for us to feel alone, resentful and turn on one another. Trust in your own belovendness which is so very hard to maintain at times. It requires some reminding that one is lovely and beloved.
By the way, I'm not cleaver enough to have come up with this on my own. When I heard it a few days ago, I was reminded of this for myself. I thought it may resonate here to bring "real" value to others in a small way.