I actively hate the phrase, “This is not who we are.”

It makes no sense because people say it normally after an event or situation that happened that they don’t like or is horrible or a combination of the two, plus even more bad.

I hate the phrase it because it’s not true.

If the thing happened, then, in fact…that is “who we are.”

The proper phrasing should be, “This is not who we want to be.”

Well, this week I am saying, “THAT was not who we are.”

THIS is who we want to be. THIS is who we are.

“This” being people who said NO SIR, NO MA’AM to evil, corruption, cruelty.

People who said LFG and took action that led to a list of firsts that has had me mildly weepy all week. OFC the number of women firsts really flushes out the old tear ducts.

I would say I don’t think I realized but of course I realized the heaviness, the low-key doom, the rage that was simmering just below the surface that I know I’ve felt the past few years. Those feelings, and knowing for certain that I would not let those feelings “be who I am” inspired Butterfly Breezes -actively and intentionally looking for the good, fueling the good, being the good that starts that ripple effect of love, joy, positivity, and optimism.

Because I know FOR SURE that at my core, that’s who I am: love, joy, positivity, and optimism. (Also, occasionally hilarious.😉)

I have practiced what I preach and have been the breeze and looked for the breeze and have seen and celebrated Butterfly Breezes to keep me out of the doom, angst, anger, and rage.

Because that is not who I am.

It’s worked. (Mostly.)

Wednesday morning, I woke up and I felt like those butterfly breezes did create the storm that made change. Not just mine, obv, but all of the people who have fought loudly and quietly, who did the big and small things, who said no to evil and yes to hope—and action.

It feels like some heavy cloud has been lifted, that there is a spring in the country’s step, and hope-scrolling is now everyone’s new favorite pastime.

Dare I say there is a galvanized energy in the air…I will dare to say it, and I might say it constantly because “galvanized energy” has a real nice power and ring to it. 💃🏼

The heaviness has lifted and something has been freed…but all that rage and anger and angst don’t just disappear.

We don’t want to BE angry.
We don’t want to BE ragey.
We don’t want to BE angsty.

We’re not meant to wallow in that sort of energy.

(That’s not who we are.)

There’s a leftover linger of that energy.

But now, it seems like a shift from those emotions feeling crushing to feeling galvanizing.

They are now a force for good.

This week feels like a huge, beautiful chasm of possibility has opened up before us…a path of opportunity with people at the end of that path enthusiastically waving us forward, “Saying come on! Come here! Come this way! It’s beautiful, energized, and inspired where we are!!!!”

Beautiful, energized, inspired, powerful, and loving.

THAT is who we are.

And I’m here for it.