I participate in economic protests, I am thoughtful with my voting in my allegedly “constitutional federal representative democracy” and I distance myself from people who support hateful, misogynist, racist regimes.
It never seems like enough during these “dark times”; and I applaud those who throw themselves onto the front lines of protesting though at times it seems like nothing is accomplished (and some individuals have lost their lives like happened in Minneapolis, MN recently).
I observe the actions of those working to “Make America Great Again“, and it feels like each day they are stripping “America” of what once made it great. I’m not seeing any greatness on the horizon and I don’t know how long it will take for the “country I live in” to heal the fractured relations with the world.
As a person of color (I have both an African American and Native American ethnic background) I struggle with seeing the leadership of the “country I live in” (and once loved) try to erase/hide the country’s past because it makes some people uncomfortable.
I remember when I was first working on my undergraduate degree and I met a woman who grew up in Germany in my German language class, and she told me as a teenager they went on a school trip to a concentration camp. They do not hide from their youth the unfathomable terrible time in history of their country. Studying the ugly historical moments in your country is a path for a society not to repeat them. Our current leadership wants “American” history whitewashed (this word feel very appropriate for what they are trying to do).
But enough of my rant. I had committed not to be too political on my blog but to me this doesn’t feel like politics it feels like a battle between love and hate (racism, lack of empathy, trying to control others life choices, etc.) I’ve always tried to be empathetic and respectful of those who think different from me politically and consider where their perspective arises. but I am struggle with what the “far right” wants to accomplish for the “country I live in”.
What I’ve decided to do additionally in protest of the current state of the “country I live in” is continue to be a loving person and send love out to the world and the people I interact with in person and through online mediums such as this one.
Because love is magic.
Life is magic.
We are the only officially known fully sentient life forms in our galaxy and perhaps the entire universe. That is some big magic!
I’d like to share the words and music of Stevie Wonder which celebrate the magic of love and life to close out this post of my musings:
If It’s Magic
by Stevie Wonder, 1976
If it’s magic Then why can’t it be everlasting Like the sun that always shines Like the poets in this rhyme Like the galaxies in time
If it’s pleasing Then why can’t it be never leaving Like the day that never fails Like on seashores there are shells Like the time that always tells
It holds the key to every heart Throughout the universe It fills you up without a bite And quenches every thirst
So If it’s special Then with it why aren’t we as careful As making sure we dress in style Posing pictures with a smile Keeping danger from a child
It holds the key to every heart Throughout the universe It fills you up without a bite And quenches every thirst
So If it’s magic Why can’t we make it everlasting Like the lifetime of the sun It will leave no heart undone For there’s enough for everyone
Source: Lyricfind.com
We all have hearts… If you have a heart, love somebody. If you have enough heart, love everybody. – Stevie Wonder
34 thoughts on “Sending Love and Appreciating the Magic”
It´s a difficult time we´re living in, so much hate, lies, unkindness and horrible news everywhere, instead of humans evolving it seems we´re regressing, here in Portugal hate and racism is raising it´s ugly head as well. I find it hard to feel positive about the future. Thank you for this post about LOVE!
Thanks so much Alice for your thoughtful comments I really appreciate them. I am sorry to read that is happening in Portugal and hate seems like a cancer that is seeping into so many societies.
Sending love right back. Sadly this kind of hateful thinking and politics seems to be on the rise in Australia too. I think the way our voting system is structured gives us a little more protection from extremists getting power but so much hate doesn’t create strong, happy communities. I see that as something we can all work on, even if we can’t make a protest.
Doesn’t help you guys at all unfortunately. Like most sane people I’m watching the world in horror and worried about you all. I like to think though that there is some power in what we do as quilters both through the comfort we can give through the gift of a quilt and the statements we can make through quilts as art
I’m with you all the way and thank you for your post. For an earlier Stevie Wonder song of hope don’t miss Some Day At Christmas. Love and hope from Chicago ❤️
As an outsider looking in, I really feel for you, everywhere seems to be in turmoil at the moment but I do worry what the world will be like after another potential three years of this. Keep safe x
It’s difficult to see that we’re still fighting the same battles after all these years, and they are the same battles. Immigrants were illegally detained and deported early in the 20th Century (which is part of why the ACLU got started), Japanese Americans were detained in concentration camps during WWII. I’m happy to say my grandkids find it hard to believe I attended segregated schools, but the problem isn’t that easy to fix–90% of the men in the prison where I worked were African American, far out of proportion to the population.
Keep sending love and doing what you can. I’m politically active but my blog is about quilts, so you won’t see it there.
Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments and I am glad your grandkids can’t relate to what you experienced. I hope the future generations never have to relate to such things. Yes I don’t usually get politically tinged on my blog I just to share some love and give the reason behind my doing so. Back to crafting and travel posts 🙂
Tierney, thank you for writing about your feelings and opinions during this dark time. I agree: it’s not about politics, but about love vs. hate, compassion vs. turning a blind eye. It’s repulsive to see them trying to erase history and create falsehoods so they can gloss over our brutal past. I was traumatized in high school history by the treatment of slaves in this country as well as the Jews and others in Nazi Germany. It does feel like we’ve learned nothing. It’s scary and it’s wrong.
Thinking of you, hoping the move is going well, and sending a virtual hug through the ether.
Sending love. Know that we here in the UK at least are fully aware that the current president isn’t representative of all Americans, and many of us are hoping that this will serve as a warning to the Reform leaning voters over here. If we don’t embrace diversity and recognise history how are we able to grow and develop – individually or collectively? Hugs.
The inclusion of Stevie Wonder’s “If It’s Magic” lands like a quiet, necessary anchor in the midst of all that frustration. Those lyrics, with their insistence on love as something eternal and wondrous, cut through the despair without pretending it away. It’s a reminder that music can still carry that kind of defiant tenderness, turning personal protest into something shared and sonic. The way the song folds galaxies and hearts into the same breath feels right here—small acts of sending love amplified by melody. Appreciate you letting the track speak for itself at the close.
The only thing good about our so called leader is how the heck he can stand for 1-1/2 hours for his age! I heard we all need to vote in democrats so the house won’t be afraid to vote against him. Your post is spot on Tierney. I have mixed grandkids and they already understand prejudice which makes me so sad. We don’t have an ounce of prejudice and they grew up the same way until junior high school. If I was physically able I would also protest. I wonder if he will rename Cuba Trump Island. 🤣
Thanks so much I appreciate your thoughtful response. I guess I will never understand hating people for the color of the skin or treating them like they are less a human than you are but I guess that in a way is sometimes innately human where fear sometimes turns to hate.
It is so painful to be a neighbour watching aggression and lies expanding, and causing suffering there and here and godhelpus elsewhere in the world. Thankfully this is offset by relatives and friends in your country (like you) and other creative people like Stevi Wonder, I don’t cry so much in despair because of you, but I still feel it.
Thank you, Tierney, I’m in the everything is politics camp and firmly believe two things can be true at once. I think we can seek peace and safety in our craft and hold to account those who are making that peace harder to find.
At the same time I can love that Stevie Wonder song and wish that everyone could have a bit of that sentiment in their hearts.
tierneycreates 
It´s a difficult time we´re living in, so much hate, lies, unkindness and horrible news everywhere, instead of humans evolving it seems we´re regressing, here in Portugal hate and racism is raising it´s ugly head as well. I find it hard to feel positive about the future. Thank you for this post about LOVE!
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Thanks so much Alice for your thoughtful comments I really appreciate them. I am sorry to read that is happening in Portugal and hate seems like a cancer that is seeping into so many societies.
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LOVE from Canada. There comes a time when we can no longer be silent -it makes us complicit. Together we can make a difference.
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Thanks so much for sending the love 🙂
I agree with your wise words!
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Sending love right back. Sadly this kind of hateful thinking and politics seems to be on the rise in Australia too. I think the way our voting system is structured gives us a little more protection from extremists getting power but so much hate doesn’t create strong, happy communities. I see that as something we can all work on, even if we can’t make a protest.
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Thanks so much Helen I so appreciate your comments and sorry Australia is being infected too but I am glad extremists can’t get power.
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Doesn’t help you guys at all unfortunately. Like most sane people I’m watching the world in horror and worried about you all. I like to think though that there is some power in what we do as quilters both through the comfort we can give through the gift of a quilt and the statements we can make through quilts as art
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I think there is power in what we do as makers 🙂
We bring creativity and hope and smiles to the world!
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I’m with you all the way and thank you for your post. For an earlier Stevie Wonder song of hope don’t miss Some Day At Christmas. Love and hope from Chicago ❤️
Jan
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Jan thanks so much for stopping by and commenting and thanks for the reminder on that other Stevie Wonder song 🙂
Thanks for the love and hope!
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As an outsider looking in, I really feel for you, everywhere seems to be in turmoil at the moment but I do worry what the world will be like after another potential three years of this. Keep safe x
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Thanks so much I appreciate your thoughtful comments and I worry about the same thing too.
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Sending love back atcha!
It’s difficult to see that we’re still fighting the same battles after all these years, and they are the same battles. Immigrants were illegally detained and deported early in the 20th Century (which is part of why the ACLU got started), Japanese Americans were detained in concentration camps during WWII. I’m happy to say my grandkids find it hard to believe I attended segregated schools, but the problem isn’t that easy to fix–90% of the men in the prison where I worked were African American, far out of proportion to the population.
Keep sending love and doing what you can. I’m politically active but my blog is about quilts, so you won’t see it there.
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Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments and I am glad your grandkids can’t relate to what you experienced. I hope the future generations never have to relate to such things. Yes I don’t usually get politically tinged on my blog I just to share some love and give the reason behind my doing so. Back to crafting and travel posts 🙂
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I think of the song, Put a Little Love in Your Heart, Jackie DeShannon, from when I was little. To me it says it all.
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Thanks Claudia that is an awesome song – I agree it says it all 🙂
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Tierney, thank you for writing about your feelings and opinions during this dark time. I agree: it’s not about politics, but about love vs. hate, compassion vs. turning a blind eye. It’s repulsive to see them trying to erase history and create falsehoods so they can gloss over our brutal past. I was traumatized in high school history by the treatment of slaves in this country as well as the Jews and others in Nazi Germany. It does feel like we’ve learned nothing. It’s scary and it’s wrong.
Thinking of you, hoping the move is going well, and sending a virtual hug through the ether.
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The move is going well thanks for asking. Well as far as a move can go as its not a hobby I recommend, ha! But there has been a lot of purging 🙂
I appreciate your thoughtful comments on my post 🙂
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Thank you. I appreciate you.
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Sending love. Know that we here in the UK at least are fully aware that the current president isn’t representative of all Americans, and many of us are hoping that this will serve as a warning to the Reform leaning voters over here. If we don’t embrace diversity and recognise history how are we able to grow and develop – individually or collectively? Hugs.
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I hope it serves as a warning for you all too! I appreciate your thoughtful comments, thanks Dawn 🙂
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Yes. i hope so too!
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❤️
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🙂
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The inclusion of Stevie Wonder’s “If It’s Magic” lands like a quiet, necessary anchor in the midst of all that frustration. Those lyrics, with their insistence on love as something eternal and wondrous, cut through the despair without pretending it away. It’s a reminder that music can still carry that kind of defiant tenderness, turning personal protest into something shared and sonic. The way the song folds galaxies and hearts into the same breath feels right here—small acts of sending love amplified by melody. Appreciate you letting the track speak for itself at the close.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting. I appreciate your thoughtful comments!
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The only thing good about our so called leader is how the heck he can stand for 1-1/2 hours for his age! I heard we all need to vote in democrats so the house won’t be afraid to vote against him. Your post is spot on Tierney. I have mixed grandkids and they already understand prejudice which makes me so sad. We don’t have an ounce of prejudice and they grew up the same way until junior high school. If I was physically able I would also protest. I wonder if he will rename Cuba Trump Island. 🤣
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Forgot to say what an amazing man and song Stevie Wonder is!
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Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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Thanks so much I appreciate your thoughtful response. I guess I will never understand hating people for the color of the skin or treating them like they are less a human than you are but I guess that in a way is sometimes innately human where fear sometimes turns to hate.
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Very wise words and much needed! Hugs and love to you and to everyone!
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Thanks so much 😀
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It is so painful to be a neighbour watching aggression and lies expanding, and causing suffering there and here and godhelpus elsewhere in the world. Thankfully this is offset by relatives and friends in your country (like you) and other creative people like Stevi Wonder, I don’t cry so much in despair because of you, but I still feel it.
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Thank you, Tierney, I’m in the everything is politics camp and firmly believe two things can be true at once. I think we can seek peace and safety in our craft and hold to account those who are making that peace harder to find.
At the same time I can love that Stevie Wonder song and wish that everyone could have a bit of that sentiment in their hearts.
Wishung for love and freedom x
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