RAW PHYSICAL POWER vs MINDFULNESS

I read a New York Times article this morning about Russia and the move on Ukraine. And I was mortified by the way the writer talked about Russia’s plan to begin the takeover IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

Not next month or next year, but in just a few short days, possibly 72 hours.

As I read the article, I saw that Russia expects to engage with pure physical military strength, such as bombs, guns, and planes, which means many people will die.

I have spent many hours in the last year watching podcasts reading articles and books about mindfulness and other people’s stories. And I listened to understand political platforms from a different perspective, democrats, republicans, liberals, white, black, native, Hispanic, Asian.

Much of what I read, at first I reared back and said no-way! Then I watched a podcast that spoke to me and brought me new ways of interpreting people. So okay, now I see that when I listen to another person’s story and be open to what the person is saying, I may disagree, but I may also understand the why.

Like peanut butter and jelly, two people can be together, close even, but not thoroughly smeared on the same bread.

So back to the Putin decision of Russia and Ukraine. All the past year of studying mindfulness, other people’s stories, and listening to ideologies vastly opposed to mine, this morning, as I read the article, I realized that none of my past mindfulness studies made sense in Russia/Ukraine.

Putin is stretching my ability to be open and inviting. I would be lying to say that he has a story I could listen to, which justifies the decision to invade Ukraine.

I came to this conclusion.

All the mindfulness and story listening in the universe will not change what Russia, China, and Dictatorships plan to do. They speak the language of raw physical power and see countries focused on human rights as weak, decisionless, and laughable.

Today, for the safety of our world, serious actions are necessary by leaders who can see the situation clearly and take action.

But not by me, with my mindfulness and vulnerability.

And that makes me feel weak.