June 3, 2020
I made a choice yesterday to share a black picture on my social accounts (not on my feed but in stories). #theshowmustbepaused was created by two black women in the music industry who asked artist to join them in a blackout in their business for a day. All virtual dance classes and rehearsals were cancelled and online shows were postponed as a #danceindustryblackout, the music industry took a day of silence, everyone was asked to not post on social media except for a black picture. This day was meant to take time to educate oneself and to support the black artists. Of course, there were plenty of people who didn’t do their research who probably had no idea what this #blackouttuesday really was, they just followed the stream and posted a back pictures and added some hashtags, mostly using #blacklivesmatter which protesters say caused a problem since that hashtag became about black squares when it should be posts of information to support. But whatever,..it doesn’t matter, support is support…
What has happened is devastating, it doesn’t matter who it is, what color of the skin, what gender, what sexual preference, what background, what age,… every person who’s been born into this world should have the same rights and be treated with respect. A person is a person.
I’m not someone who wants to go out and protest, I rarely share about things online, but I am still in support. I will however never ever support those who think burning down buildings and robbing places is a good idea, it isn’t. March all you want, share articles and your own thoughts online, do whatever you want as long as it doesn’t hurt other people. Violence is never the answer. Bad things shouldn’t be met with more bad. There are other ways.
It is sad that in the year 2020 we still have all these different problems and something needs to be done for sure (equal rights, gay rights, blacklivesmatter, metoo etc etc). Something you can do; educate yourself and inform the younger. Everyone is born with a pure heart and mind, and then the parents, teachers and society takes over. It is up to us, all of us.
Yesterday morning I told Jim that I wanted to take the opportunity to have a day of no music, no videos, no podcasts and no meaningless social media scrolling, simply because sometimes we do need those days of being a bit closed off and due to everything going on in our world at the moment (and because of this online blackout), it felt like a good day of reflection. My day was mixed between overflowing thoughts about well, basically everything; corona, race issues in our world, women’s rights, religion, children’s rights to education, you name it.. and switch to enjoying the silence and trying to quiet the mind with meditation to make space for more clarity. I read articles about various things, read in my books and worked out for a little bit together with my husband (in silence which felt odd but nice). A day of hmm,..what should we call it…decluttered surroundings…was something I came to appreciate. I have my own opinions on things, of course I do, like everyone else, but sometimes it’s nice to sit down and really think about them and see how I really feel, what’s my values, where do I stand and what do I believe. I guess this was my version of a blackout..