BY STEPHANIE BLATCHLEY, FELLOW
Fear
Snakes
Slimy Bodies
Slithering Shapes
Surprise Your Step
I’m afraid of death
Heights
Drive Off A Cliff
Tall Bridges
Fall To The Ground
I’m afraid of death
Tight Places
Walls Caving In
Locked In Small Places
Suffocation
I’m afraid of death
Death
I Love Living
What is afterlife like?
Will I be alone?
God’s Grace
Snakes
Corner of my eye
Hand placed on the ground
Steps in tall grass
I Lived
Heights
Mountain Drive
Driven on tall bridges
Hiked to the top of mountains
I Lived
Tight Places
Tight Elevators
Cave Walking
Eight Hour Plane Ride
I Lived
Emotions
What do I do with emotions?
What is going on in my head?
Why am I so angry?
I can recognize my emotions
Self-righteous thoughts
I don’t understand?
What does it mean for you?
I can name my emotions
Notice my body
What do I need?
What do you need?
Show compassion
I can be calmed
I can be in the moment
I can breathe deeply
At one with God
Hospitality
Collective Care
Self-Care
Conversations
Invitations
Vulnerability
Honest Intention
A Meal
Self-Reflection
Community
Inclusion
I name my fear
I am curious about…
I ask for tools to help
I am vulnerable
I am not silent
We share stories
We study each other
We feel understood
Belonging
Bias Interrupted
Who are you?
Where did you grow up?
Where do you work?
I don’t understand.
Help me understand.
Who am I?
How do we trust each other?
How do you see me?
Curiosity
Listening
Listening looks like…
Understanding humanity behind the words
Words cover my true feelings
Feelings provide direction and help me to be vulnerable
Vulnerably, I show up and listen
Listening is a pathway to tolerance
Tolerance stops me from judging
Judgement is not listening
Listening builds empathy
Empathy validates and builds community
Community brings long term harmony
My Home is a Privilege
Why did you ring our doorbell at 2:00 am?
The coldest night of the year
I woke with a start at your call
My heart beat with the rhythm of your insistent ringing
What did you need?
My husband woke certain your call was a doorbell malfunction due to the cold
My heart kept beat with your rhythm until 4:00 am
Then I lost you
I know you were at our house
I found your gum
I followed your footprints to the end of the driveway
I am sorry I didn’t answer your call
I was scared I was going to be killed
I think of you today, I hope you got the help you needed
Class Privilege
As the co-signer you need 6 times the monthly rent in your saving/checking account
Come on in we’ll test you now
Seven grocery stores in an eight mile radius
No outlet, dead end
Yes, of course get a second opinion
I was hungry
Private road, no through traffic
May I see your insurance card?
I have the ingredients
Dead end, private road no trespassing
Stephanie Blatchley is a Fellow of A Year of Courageous Conversations to explore how to foster greater inclusion and belonging in our communities. The series is presented by Urban Consulate at Barrington’s White House in Barrington, Illinois. To read more, visit CourageousConversations.us.
(Photo Credit: Christina Noël)