Respond Gently Not React Angrily

Dear Rain Dove,

You have truly mastered the art of #listening to what is not spoken. You speak from a place of #love and I truly feel your #beautiful #heart. A #gentle answer turns away #anger.

We can turn #badshit into #goodshitwemakehappen if only we #respond from a place of #kindness and #love, not #react in #anger. We should all strive to master such #goodcommunication skills and continue #speakingfromtheheart.

If everyone could be so generous and #compassionate as you, the world would be a much better place. Thanks for #leadingbyexample and showing us how we can make our interactions with others #goodexperiences for them and for us. Because of you, the world is a better place.

You do you. You are your own kind of beautiful.

Xoxo

J*

#letterslive #readaletter

Instagram Repost • @raindovemodel

“It will take many forms of activism to make progress on this planet.

Righteous Rage is valid. Daring Diplomacy is valid. Self Care is valid. Taking to the streets is valid. Taking to Twitter is valid. Taking to our own truths internally is valid.

Whatever I post I know people will find a way to hate it. If I engage positively then I’m Virtue Signalling. If engage bluntly then I am bullying. If I don’t engage I am being weak. If I speak to them at all I’m pandering. If I don’t speak I’m hiding. If I share the posts I’m showing off. If I don’t show the posts then I’m not “doing enough work” and am a liar. Any angle will bring criticism.

That’s why when we do work in the community we must do it because it feels right in our own hearts. Do it because You truly want a solution- not because You want approval.

When I share these types of posts I do it to show that this communication style can work. That it’s beneficial to assess our attackers first as people vs as enemies. That volatile reactions should be a resort only taken after careful consideration.

However, let me be clear - this in no way means that this type of language used towards me in this post is OK. It is dangerous. Violent. And towards certain people can contribute towards enticing self harm or emotional trauma. I don’t condone it- I only communicate through it because at the end of the day it’s about getting people to drop their knives and therefore I must drop my emotional ego that says “Fuck that person!”. This is MY form of ``.

However if You feel that You can not engage on this level then You are NOT less of a person. You are not weaker. Less graceful. Less intelligent. If you react with rage that is not necessarily the wrong response because it is your truth.

We all have our own ways of weaving through this existence. As long as we work our threads to the same ultimate goal of comprehension and unity then we are all still one team. We must work to dismantle toxic oppressions that lead to social oppressions and anxieties. We must create a space of love for all people to live in no matter their bodies. We must create a safe space for dialogue.

#educatedonthate #LoveWins #noteasybutworthit #nonbinary #memes #binding #lgbtq #genderfluid #trans #grsm

NOTE: Sammy's parent gave me permission to post this convo! Always important to make sure You have permission! The photo is not their real face.”