Day 20 - Bliss

Pen Play: A poem-a-day writer's retreat in June

Hello my friends :) Welcome to Day 20! 

I was a little surprised by what came up for me today. Standing curious at the edge of my prompt, breathing and welcoming as I always do, I felt the voice of misunderstood minority people (myself among them) speaking in my ear. 

Quick technical note before I dive in: Of course I cannot and do not want to speak on behalf of all minorities everywhere, but I can share some of the experiences the minority people in my life have shared with me as well as my own. That said, onwards ;) 

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Photo by Tim Samuel

There are so many challenges and complications created from a lack of understanding for minority groups from non-minorities, but among them is the fact that, too often, minorities simply aren’t considered as average human beings in relation to our joys. 

That is, how many news articles do we see or conversations do we hear about the pleasures, victories, and delights of queer, neurodivergent, trans, Native, black, etc. lives? When do we talk about Bliss, abundant in the nature of a human life, beyond a new wellness program or as a buzzword?

We are having massive global conversations about the challenges and the restrictions and the condemning legislation, all of which is so critically important to the safety, happiness, and future of the affected communities, but truly, it is equally a disservice not to make the success stories, the opportunities, the innovations, or simply the everyday wonders of these groups shine too. 

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve told my mother in response to an ongoing worry about certain conditions of my sexuality or undiagnosed neurodivergent hang-ups (or my finances too, because of course haha), “I don’t want you to worry about me; I want you to love me.” 

I’ve said it over and over again, those exact words, and I’ve meant them passionately. I know others in my life feel similarly about the way those that care for them inevitably bear the weight of a blanket of concern. It’s not that we don’t appreciate the intent (at least most of us), but rather like, “I know I have challenges, but I also have a wonderful and joyful life.” 

Minorities (who may not even be minorities in some years or decades, by the way) are not only defined by our challenges; we are whole people, the same as any other person. This kind of rhetoric gets around, and there are so many fabulous allies who are making sure it does (which is awesome), but still, I don’t often see the part where we simply talk about the joys of living, even and especially where someone is trans or neurodiverse or has a differently abled body, etc. 

In her magnificently theatrical, and no less very powerful, video coming out as trans, Abigail Thorn says exactly this (from 30:56): 

In the long run, I keep my heart oriented for a world where we do share more of the joys of all people (as in, not specifically distinguishing a queer, trans, neurodivergent, etc. joy from others); where the sensationalism of news and media runs on connection and intimacy, not separation and drama; and where we’ve reached a point of such all-around acceptance that we ourselves can scarcely see the divisions. 

I’ve heard it before - I’m aware that some (many?) may call my visions “idealist,” “unrealistic,” or “illogical,” that many truly cannot see past the terrors this crazy world is drawing to the surface. I honor that too; it’s a valid experience.

And yet, I rely on the fact that, at the end of the day, we’re all human. As such, I believe so many of us, in the midst of the crazy, would also wholeheartedly welcome the visibility of the equally true fact that, as individuals, as those who live and love, as those who are moving through massive growths in this moment due to those very stressors, we really are still shining as lights in the long run. 

If you still don’t believe me, take a look around at this space. Here, I know for a fact that we have people represented across countries, across a few spectrums of cognition and sexuality and, likely, belief systems. Despite those differences, here we are, effortless, enjoying thoughtful and encouraging company, inspiring poetry. Wouldn’t you want more of your world to know about that joy? 

In honor of Pride Month that is still upon us, I followed this thought with a queer voice in today’s poem. 

Bliss, my friends <3 Much love to you all. 

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Bliss

Let me go there.

Let me follow my 
Bliss serpent down a 
Long road a winding 
Road where I reach the end to not
Stop no monster in my 
Tracks no skeleton in my 
Closet of eagles in 
Clear blue skies and a 
Parachute that won’t be pulled.

We don’t need a safety net
Flying high in our might 
Like the eagles we are; 
We follow our bliss, 
Through the meadows and the glens,
Across the plains and along the
Rabbit holes, 
We’re smooth slidin’
Slow ridin’ bliss babies
On our way to the ball.

You like the sequins? 
We did them ourselves.
Glad you noticed ;)

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