Preparing

It’s November 1. The clocks went back last night. My body wakes up at the same time no matter what, so I have been up since a little before 6am.  The sun is rising. I can hear birds both near and far, crows, song sparrows, scrub jays, seagulls, and more. The day is here. 

Last night I watched the Blue Moon rise and her companion’s Mercury red glow become brighter and I thought of all I have loved who are no longer with me - physically. 

I remembered their faces, their smells, and their touch. I remembered their smiles, their laughter and their stories. I spoke their names.

Each had a unique path in this life and many were the first… in their families or workplaces to be or do. During their lives, they experienced accomplishment, hate, fear, admiration, friendship, respect, and love. 

They lived full lives.

I am holding each of them closer now as I am feeling the need to tap into all their strength, resolve, humanity, courtage, and love for what I know is coming.

I invite you to do the same.

About The Author:

Jara Dean-Coffey (jdc) is Founder and Director of the Equitable Evaluation Initiative and the Founder of Luminare Group. For the past twenty-five years, she has partnered with clients and colleagues to elevate their collective understanding of the relationship between values, context, strategy and evaluation and shifting our practices so that they are more fully in service of equity. For more about musings + machinations click here.