I woke up this morning with the conversation from a recent episode of the We Can Do Hard Things podcast still ringing in my head.
The interview was with Sarah Polley, writer + director of Women Talking, a movie about Mennonite women coming together to make a choice in facing the cruelty they’ve been subject to.
In the conversation, the three hosts of the podcast talk with Sarah about the hard. They talk about art + activism. They talk about coming together.
As I think about what strength means to me on this International Women's Day during Women's History Month, I find myself continuously coming back to connection.
I was raised to “just be happy.” To put a smile on my face. To be grateful for what I have, and not necessarily ask for more.
Gratitude, I’ve got, but this blind optimism isn’t what I needed when I ran into hurdles; when things got hard and I needed to persist.
As I grew into an adult, I realized optimism, alone, isn’t the answer. I needed to both experience and spread help and healing.
And this could only happen as a result of genuine connection.
I’ve found recovery in friendships with fellow artists, writers, friends, and family members.
I’ve realized I’m not alone when I read certain works; listen to certain music; create and consume certain art.
I’ve gained strength when I’ve been in safe places where honest conversations can be had.
There is infinite power to be found through connection — with people, with creative works, with the world around us.
There is a force behind we, much stronger than the one behind me.
In Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act, A Way of Being, he shares this:
“Nothing begins with us. The more we pay attention, the more we begin to realize that all the work we ever do is a collaboration. It’s a collaboration with the art that’s come before you and the art that will come after. It’s also a collaboration with the world you’re living in, with the experiences you’ve had, with the tools you use, with the audience and with who you are today.”
We, too, are a collaboration with the people who’ve helped us heal. Who’ve made us feel less alone. Who’ve let us borrow their strength.
There’s still a lot of work to be done in this world that we can have an impact on.
Because it’s all so big, it can be hard to know where to start.
I propose we begin with connection.
We can leave our mark by being the friend; the artist; the kind human that shows up and connects with others.
We can make this world a better place.
But we can’t do it alone.
We have power. Together.