Dear White Friends, / June 7, 2020 by Robyn Rapske

Dear White Friends,
(and non-White friends who are trying to understand my White friends)

If you’re reading this post, I assume you care deeply about what’s going on.

When you saw George Floyd murdered, you were in deep pain. Today you are still reeling from realities of how much worse it is than you realized. Maybe you’ve also begun seeing the parallels with how bad it is in Canada. Perhaps you’ve heard Indigenous and Latinx people saying “us too”.

I’d imagine you’ve also received an onslaught of education on terms like Systemic Racism, Police Brutality, White Supremacy, and “Defunding the Police”.

It’s been overwhelming. It’s been confusing and heart wrenching. You’ve seen arguments online. You’ve been in these arguments. You’ve realized the people around you don’t always care as much as you thought. You’ve tried to say helpful things, and failed, yet you’ve also heard that ‘silence is violence’, so you keep reposting.

I want to tell you: I see you, I relate, and I’m so glad we’re all talking. We’ve been given another opportunity to move towards a just society.

The most important people to listen to right now are Black and Indigenous folks willing to share online, in print, in videos, and in podcasts. They are the experts. So what I write below is secondary to that. It is to encourage you to keep going. To help you feel “seen” for the intense feelings you’re having right now.

I share your experience. I am White and I have also been trying to figure out what to do.

I learned about the effects of systemic racism in 2010, and it broke my soul. The Indian Act. Apartheid. I was 21. For 21 years I did not know systemic racism existed. My education did not inform me. My network did not inform me. My church certainly didn’t inform me. And my own indifference and self-centred nature meant I didn’t explore the clues that were around me. I am not proud of that.

Since then, I’ve tried to learn more from a Social Work undergrad, various books, internal reflection, and listening to the stories around me.

As I’ve finally started looking for internalized racist ideas, and the policies supporting racist systems, I’ve found them everywhere. Racist ideas and beliefs in the patterns of my brain. Racist structures in my workplace. Racism in my relationships with others.

With this knowledge, I’ve argued with my family and friends that they should see it like I do now. I’ve been ‘that girl’ who brings the conversation crashing to a halt for ‘social justice’ reasons. It’s been uncomfortable and full of errors.

Luckily, amidst the mistakes, I have learned a few things, which I thought I’d share. Tips and encouragement, helping you to keep going.

(I’ve also listed some resources that are more important than my thoughts. Feel free to skip to the last title “Now What?”)

Keep Making Mistakes. Keep Learning.

Even if you’re screwing up in your efforts to do good--it is still worth it, and important. Please keep making the mistakes and feeling confused. Others’ lives are depending on all of our efforts to keep trying. Movement forwards is better than staying silent.

As mentioned, I’ve made mistakes. I’ve pissed off friends and family. I’ve had my efforts corrected by authors and teachers. I’ve found internalized racism pop up in my body and mind in unexpected ways. I continue to learn how pervasive it is.

I’ve also burnt out and given up, then been invited by friends to step back up again.

With every mistake, I learn more, and improve. The next talk about racism goes better than the last one.

“You’re going to screw this up royally. More than once...It’s going to happen, and you should have these conversations anyways.”
- Ijeoma Oluo, So You Want To Talk About Race

If you want to hear deeper accounts of how some of that looked in some short personal essays, I’ve posted over the years here:

The Clumsy Efforts of Reconciliation in One White Life Part 1 : How it felt to finally open my eyes to systemic racism, by finding out that South Africa’s Apartheid took tips and tricks from our own Canadian “Indian Act” (which is still law in Canada).
The Clumsy Efforts of Reconciliation in One White Life Part 2 : Three specific ways I’ve accidentally internalized racism, along with various action points I decided to take back in 2018.
Being white, and thinking about racism, as I travel through NYC and Philly : My interactions with anti-Black racism while in the US. This was a very strange experience for me, revealing how much racism was lurking below the surface, even after working on anti-racism for 8 years.

White Fragility: “I’m Not A Racist!”

I get how hard it is to hear condemnation against White people. Maybe this is difficult for you, or maybe you’re realizing how difficult it is for other White folks.

You, and others, don’t want to be called ‘racist’. It’s a horrible feeling, and we usually don’t think we deserve it.

We could be right...in an incomplete definition of racism.

Ijeoma Oluo’s book “So You Want To Talk About Race” is so helpful. She understands White people more than we understand ourselves.

In pages 26-30, she shares this:

“The most common definitions of racism (in my own summation) are as follows: (1) Racism is any prejudice against someone because of their race. Or (2) Racism is any prejudice against someone because of their race, when those views are reinforced by systems of power”
“When we use the first definition of racism, as any prejudice against someone based on race, we inaccurately reduce issues of race in America [and Canada] to a battle for the hearts and minds of individual racists--instead of seeing racists, racist behaviors, and racial oppression as part of a larger system.”
“The truth is, you don’t even have to “be racist” to be part of the racist system”

For massive positive change, we’re not fighting back against racist individuals, we’re fighting the pervasive racist structures which create disproportionate suffering in Black and Indigenous lives. Fighting the system which encourages us all to be unintentional racists. Fighting the policies that have built racist ideas that were fed to everyone for many years to uphold power structures of inequality.

Right now we are focused on a major racist system. The training, funding and structure of police forces which lead to police brutality, as well as constant fear and distrust of legal systems by Black and Indigenous people. (I might add, also the racist systems leading to overrepresentation of Black people dying from Covid-19 in the unjustly distributed health care of the USA.)

Death by police brutality and Covid-19 are both out of your control if you just try to be ‘nice’ to your Black friends and family.

“Systemic racism is a machine that runs whether we pull the levers or not, and by just letting it be, we are responsible for what it produces. We have to actually dismantle the machine if we want to make change.” Oluo p. 30

It doesn’t sound hopeful, until you remember that systems can be changed. The protests this week have caused some major cities to change their police funding choices.

“Defunding the Police” is a large systemic change, one of which I’m still learning about. From what I’ve read, this includes A. Re-allocating funds from militarized law enforcement instead to improving the wellness and health of targetted communities: and B. Re-assigning tasks that the police shouldn’t be responsible for, such as responding to episodes related to a mental health breakdown.

These systems also involve disproportionate power, which is part of the privilege White people have.

“Over four hundred years of systemic oppression have set large groups of racial minorities at a distinct power disadvantage. If I call a white person a cracker, the worst I can do is ruin their day. If a white person thinks I’m a [n-word], the worst they can do is get me fired, arrested, or even killed in a system that thinks the same--and has the resources to act on it.” Oluo, pg 28

This is what we saw in the video of Amy Cooper’s threatening police on Black man. She knew she could invoke a racist system on someone, because if the police showed up, they’d believe her first.

Derek Chauvin only felt powerful enough to continue brutally murdering George Floyd because he had gotten away with it before, within a system that ran in his favour.

There are so many other ways in which the details of this systemic oppression destroys Black and Indigenous lives, while offering opportunities for White lives to flourish. Red-lining in real estate, banking, and investments. Underfunding of Black and Indigenous communities’ schools. Dangerously bad water quality in Black and Indigenous communities. Every Black person’s story of being followed in stores due to biases entrenched in businesses.

Whether or not racists exist in the system, the racist system itself needs to change.

Also: The above also helps you explain to friends and family why “All Lives Matter” and “I Don’t See Colour” are problematic. Black and Indigenous lives have not been treated like they matter within this system. And if you don’t see colour, you don’t see the problems people face in the system.

Misdirecting the Conversation

Videos posted of police officers kneeling in solidarity.

White and Black people hugging, crying together, shaking hands, etc.

“Police officers just want to help, and they are dying too”

“What if George Floyd actually had a criminal past?”

“But this other Black person said something different than the other millions of Black people…”

The first three of these come from a good place of caring for others. The last two come only to distract you. All of them misdirect the conversation away from the actual issue, and once again mute the experiences and stories of millions of Black and Indigenous people.. (Side-bar: These tactics are also used in muting the lived experiences of other non-White populations, which is something to be aware of).

When you hear these, try to redirect these conversations back to the greater problems in systemic racism, internalized racism, and tangible policies we can change.

We know that the problem is not whether White people love Black people. The problem isn’t whether police officers sympathize with Black communities. The problem isn’t forgetting that God loves each person of every race. The problem isn’t whether George Floyd was a perfect person.

These are conversations that distract from the real problem. Racist policies keep racist ideas in place, and racism keeps operates whether or not any of the above gets discussed.

This is also why you might notice it feels hollow to many Black and Indigenous people, when seeing posts about police officers kneeling, and a hug between a White police officer and a Black protestor. While nice gestures, they are not fixing anything. They also have the danger of misdirecting the conversation, and soothing us White folks into feeling like that’s all it takes.

Austin Channing Brown: We are not going to hug our way to justice.

Now What?

So, what can we keep doing?
Here are some ideas for you and for me:

Continue to educate yourself. But DO NOT ASK YOUR BLACK/INDIGENOUS FRIENDS for advice. I have friends exhausted at how many people are messaging them. Google things. I also have recommendations below. Research new words you come across, such as “microaggressions” and “intersectionality”.
Follow Black and Indigenous social media, organizations, and newsletters. These are great for keeping up to date on important actions, events, and policy changes to fight for.
When you figure out which racist systems are being upheld by various levels of government, email, call, write, or visit the political leaders in your area, to emphasize the need to change these systems. Find organizations in your area who have templates already created for emails and letters. Remember to use this information in your VOTE!
Fund helpful organizations fighting systemic racism. Buy from companies run by people who are Black, Indigenous, or other minority groups. It’s the first way to share power. We all know money contains power.
With everything you’ve learned from the above steps, pause, think, and reflect on your own racist words, actions, feelings, and systems which you are part of. Work, church, families, friendships, and any place you hold control. I promise, they are there, and it’ll feel much better when you see them, and deal with them.
Educate those around you on what you’ve learned. Then call injustices out. (It’ll be uncomfortable, and I’m so sorry, but it’s worth it).
Repeat

Recommendations

Glossary of Common Terminology - for reference on all sorts of words

Books to Buy & Read:

These books regarding anti-Black racism (in the USA)

These books regarding Indigenous experiences and racism (in Canada and the USA)

Feeling Some Anxiety? Me Too. / March 15, 2020 by Robyn Rapske

Pandemic

Did that word, announced by the World Health Organization last week, flick all sorts of anxiety switches on throughout your body, as it did to mine?

I’m an impulsive researcher and fact-checker. I’m also active on social media. And I talk regularly with my brother, a doctor, who is full of the most up-to-date information on this COVID-19 coronavirus. So the past week has been filled with all of the ways humanity is suffering, or soon to be suffering.

All sorts of questions have been sprinting back and forth in my mind.

Am I at risk? How fast will this consume my city? What will it look like when it explodes here? What family members and friends of mine are at higher risk? What planned events do I now have to cancel? What does this mean for my job? Sweaty palms—is that a symptom of COVID-19? What if I get it and I’m stuck at home for 2 weeks? Do I have enough food? How will I exercise? How will I stay sane being indoors so long? Are there enough mechanical ventilators in Canada?!?

Maybe for you it's been “Will humanity rip itself apart in grocery stores?” “Will I pass COVID-19 along to a loved one?” “Who will pick up my groceries for me?”

As someone who has already struggled with chronic bouts of anxiety, I am not unfamiliar with these downward spirals of thinking. I’m well-acquainted with the symptoms that come along with stress. That tightened chest in heightened fear. The sweaty palms and fast heartbeat. That weird inability to focus on a conversation because I’m so focused on potential threats to my well being.

If you’re not used to this anxiety, and you're surprised by the intensity of it, I am so sorry you have to deal with it. It’s no fun.

If you’re someone who already has anxiety, and this made it so much worse—I empathize, and I’m so sorry you and I have to deal with this.

After clearing up all the necessaries, such as purchasing a reasonable amount of non-perishable foods and medications, finding out what my job looks like for the next while, and reorganizing my schedule to be more 'socially distanced’, the anxiety should go away...right?

Not so much for me, perhaps not so much for you.

What do we all do with this anxiety, since COVID-19 will be scary for a while longer?

I’ve started putting a few of my usual anxiety response measures in place. And I thought I’d share how I do that, in case it’s at all helpful to others.

Three main concepts underlie anything that’s been helpful to my anxiety:

The knowledge that anxiety is normal and I’m not weird for having it (especially right now!)

Anxiety is what keeps us alive. It’s a helpful response that will get me through a dangerous situation. I’m not weird for having it. I also don’t hate that it’s something my body does. Even if it’s sometimes annoying and exhausting.

In high school, I had a self-defence class which involved a pretend ‘attacker’ grabbing us from behind. I vividly remember this. As soon as those hands got around me, instant energy buzzed through my muscles. My hands flew together in front of me, swung up as high as they could go, and then sped backwards on an angle, sending my elbow slamming into his gut. I didn’t even notice that he had released me. All I remember is ending up at the other side of the room, breathing hard, turning around, and seeing the poor guy (in his head-to-toe padding) gasping on the ground. I’d completely winded him. I had no control over that moment--my body responded with it’s instinct to stay alive.

That’s a great system to have in place! In dangerous situations, this body knows what to do to keep me alive.

And, in situations like that, when safety was found, my body also knew how to rest, finding stability again.

Unfortunately, with the word pandemic flashing around the globe, there is actually no enemy for me to throttle, and no safe place to run to. And it hasn’t actually fully attacked us yet in Vancouver--we’re preparing for it before it’s even become common throughout the city. It’s still coming.

So my body is responding in what seems like strange ways.

Indigestion, nausea, and heartburn. The strange inability to remember things, process nuanced information, or focus on a task.

These symptoms make sense in light of survival efforts.

Stomach problems? That’s my body telling me that there’s something super dangerous going on, and I need to focus on surviving until the danger is gone, instead of properly digesting food. Changes in my thinking brain? Well, sure, because if there’s a threat, the only thing that matters is information on basic survival. Fight. Get safe. Not that story your friend is telling you, or the long term goals you have.

When I remember this, it's a bit easier to have compassion, understanding, and letting go of judgement for my body. And then I can find new ways to deal with it.

2. The need to try new things to help with anxiety. Going with what works for me.

I’ve tried a fair amount of things to bring calm to my anxious body. Some things haven’t worked at all.

For example, Yoga has yet to help me. And two varieties of antidepressants simply gave me headaches.

That said, sometimes things I’ve tried before did nothing at the outset, but trying them again a few years later, they've miraculously been the thing that pulls me out of a bad bout of anxiety.

One great example of this: Mindfulness practice.

I studied social work from University of Victoria, and they love mindfulness meditations there. At the time of my study, I did not. I was a heavy scoffer against this practice. I thought it was weird, silly, and felt similar to someone saying “take this herb, and your cancer will be fixed”. How could listening to your breathing help clinically diagnosable anxiety and depression?

Years later, a psychologist showed me the scientific background for why mindfulness meditation is helpful. I needed something for my anxiety-induced, ongoing insomnia. Despite her evidence for the efficacy of this practice, I actually only tried it because of a felt moral duty. I was working with women in addiction at that time, asking them to try new things they might distrust, in order to overcome their trauma and substance abuse. How could I ask them to try things they were hesitant towards, and not do so myself?

In a lovely turn of events, mindfulness meditation was what lifted me out of a seemingly insurmountable problem. I found relief from years of insomnia, and found calm in many more parts of my life. Yay! Glad.

So here today, amidst the COVID-19 anxiety, does mindfulness practice work? Sadly no. Not right at this moment. But it might again tomorrow!

When one thing doesn’t work, I try others to see if they’ll help. Journalling? Not helpful right now. Finding things to be grateful for? Didn’t do much. Sleeping a lot? Nope. Watching funny TV? A fun experience, but still too much anxiety. Eating healthy? Always important for the body, but not helping the anxiety. Baking? Cooking? Talking with family? Texting a friend? Gardening? Reading? Nope.

But then! I went out for a walk, listened to a podcast, sat in the sunshine, and cleaned our patio. And found some calm! NICE. Something always works out.

This season, I think each day, I have to root through my toolkit of practices to see which one might help.

If I feel like I’m missing a tool, that’s precisely why I follow mental health professionals on Instagram, and I have a counsellor! (Tip: My counsellor is amazing, and you can follow her for many great tips and tricks for finding peace in this turbulent time: @HillaryLiannaMcbride)

But of course, remember that what works for me, might not work for you, and that's okay. Keep trying things. And symptoms change, so if your anxiety shows up in new ways, that’s normal.

3. Knowing that the anxiety will eventually calm, change, or become more manageable.

Sometimes, due to the ‘tunnel-vision’ symptoms of anxiety, I can lose hope that this feeling I have right now will ever go away or improve. Anxiety is so focused on the here and now, in order to survive, that it can't see beyond, into the future.

But it will change, it will become more manageable. If I keep trying new things. Or retrying things i’ve tried before.

One tunnel-vision thought I’ve had that's been stressful is: “Oh no. What if I’m stuck inside for a quarantine, and I get depressed, like before when I had a chronic illness, and I feel so isolated again?”. This type of tunnel-thinking misses Part 2 of all of my life ups and downs. In regards to this particular thought, I can remember that, when I was stuck indoors for so long, eventually I found ways to combat isolation. Chatting with friends through social media, blogging, calling loved ones on the phone more often, and I discovering a love of cooking I’d previously not had.

Our brains are far more creative and capable than we give them credit for.

Also, quarantine will not be forever. This virus too shall pass. Perhaps with difficulty, but it will be different in a while, and we'll move forward again.

After we get through this, there will surely be studies about everything going on right now. About human survival instincts, about how social media has changed the results of this pandemic, about the efficiency of certain emergency responses systems, comparing one country’s response to another.

I'm very grateful to see everyone sharing helpful tools, tips, and advice across the social media spheres.

We'll get through this. Thanks to all of you, and all of humanity being good to one another.

Also, I love that everyone is saying this, it feels like solidarity that we all have the same goal. And that even the most non-involved people seem to be on board:

#FlattenTheCurve

Some random helpful tools for anxiety:

Mindfulness Apps like HeadSpace

Counselling resources like BetterHelp

Solidarity with others who face anxiety at Libero Magazine or The Mighty

More information on at Anxiety Canada

Follow Instagram stories on your favourite mental health advocate, or the already referenced Hillary McBride

(p.s. Podcasts are what got me through 2 years of isolated feelings when a chronic illness kept me mostly at home. I felt a connection to the outside world through them. Suggestions: Stuff You Should Know, Revisionist History, The Bechdel Cast, and The Office Ladies are just a few that have been good fits for me)

Learning to Filter Unsolicited Advice / January 22, 2019 by Robyn Rapske

This was originally published on The Mighty, and I am posting it here with their permission. See the original article here: “Learning To Filter Unsolicited Advice as Someone With Chronic Illness” and also cross-posted on Yahoo News here.

When I first dealt with Graves’ disease in April 2017, and then when I developed post-concussion syndrome in January 2018 (that’s still going strong), I received an ever-changing set of problems that require adaptions. One of these was the unexpected amount of unsolicited advice given by people in all levels of my social world.

From what I’ve heard, most people with any kind of health trouble will receive unsolicited advice. I guess it was my turn to see what this reality feels like.

At the beginning, I was eager to try everything offered to me.

It started with diet.

The naturopath says try cutting gluten out of my diet? Sure! Eliminate dairy, decrease added sugars, decrease processed foods? Yea, sure, sounds reasonable. But then I was recommended to cut out nightshade vegetables, and told to follow the autoimmune protocol diet. I was being told to cut out canola oil and sunflower oil. I was switched from iodized salt to sea salt. I was told I should drink copious amounts of bone broth and kombucha. I was encouraged to eat hormone-free meats raised without antibiotics, only non-GMO products, and the most organic options I could find. Most forms of soy were also off the table.

I had panic attacks over food choices, and I was spending triple the money I normally would on grocery bills. I was crushed under the weight of responsibility for my wellness. I felt that every bite of “wrong” food could mean never overcoming a potentially solvable health problem. There were tears, there was anxiety, and I was terribly bored with the food available. When people asked me why I was so restrictive in my food, I couldn’t even really explain because there were too many reasons and rules to keep track of.

I felt that every bite of “wrong” food could mean never overcoming a potentially solvable health problem.

Luckily these panic attacks slowly evolved into a realization that there is just too much advice for this anxious soul to follow, and the stress of it might be worse than the potentially inflammatory food entering my body. This was a very important lesson. It involved understanding myself and choosing what to do based on who I know myself to be.

It doesn’t mean I rejected every bit of advice I received, but it meant I needed to learn to filter advice better.

I kept some food advice that I felt I could follow, and gently shelved the rest at the back of my mind. This is how I treat all health tips handed to me now.

As this filtering of advice involves a lot of interactions with people, enacting it has meant that I need to figure out how to respond to the people who offer it. It’s been difficult, especially as someone who is sensitive but also tries hard to keep relationships smooth.

I’ve had people kindly offer advice in a gentle way, acknowledging that I may not follow it for my own reasons, and they won’t judge me for it. I’ve also had people offer advice in a tone that implies I am doing myself a disservice if I don’t immediately follow their advice. That’s a bit hard to handle. And there are plenty of people in the middle who boldly offer advice I may not be in the mood to hear, but they also don’t have any kind of judgment towards me if I don’t follow it, so I really feel no right to be angry at them.

To cope with all levels of advice, this is what I’ve come up with so far.

First I ask myself, does this person seem to care about my well-being? Generally I can say that yes, they want me to be well, and the advice they offer is for the betterment of my health. This helps me orient how I continue to deal with their advice. Any initial anger, defensiveness or frustration is lessened when I remember the person is saying this because they care about me.

Is this a professional health care provider? If they are, I will put their advice higher on my list of options. That’s a value I hold, trusting medical professionals, and I think it’s important to remember what I value. Others may have become distrustful of the medical field, and I understand where they’re coming from, but I more seriously consider the ideas of medical professionals.

Will this person be receptive to an explanation that I can only act on a few bits of advice at a time? (Or even no advice sometimes?) If they aren’t receptive, I will probably silently let them continue to advise, and leave the conversation as soon as I can. I have only so much energy; I can’t use it all up on convincing well-meaning folks that I’ll only be filing their advice away with a lot of other advice.

After all of that, I can go home in my introverted style and consider what I want to try next. I can look at my budget, what is covered through work, how much I can handle in a given week, how much energy I have at that time and my motivation level. Eventually, I’ll also have to judge if I really need to try more things, or if adjusting to a new normal is my best option. These are all personal things nobody else can really decide for me, as they don’t know as much as I do about myself.

Right now, this is where I’m at. But this is how I respond to my own health diagnosis, my own life circumstances and my own personal mental wellness. If someone else has a brain injury or Graves’ disease, or other health struggles, they will respond in the way that is best for them. Maybe they’ll reject all advice. Maybe later I’ll reject all advice too.

I’ve learned so far that advice feels best when offered out of care for my well-being, and with hesitancy and openness to it being turned down. And on my end, it’s important for me to know what I value, where I’m at, and how much energy I have for new therapies, and let those filter out the opinions others offer me.

I can’t change how others approach me, but I can change how I respond. (I can also change how I approach others in the future if or when I choose to offer them advice!)

Remembrance Day. Honouring both sides of my family history. / November 12, 2018 by Robyn Rapske

My first memory of Remembrance Day was at an assembly in 2001. I stood in a line against the wall of our gymnasium, along with other kids in my grade six choir, holding a small candle and singing “One Little Candle”:

“If we'd all say a prayer that the world would be free
A wonderful dawn of a new day we'd see...
And if everyone lit just one little candle
What a bright world this would be”

Then we soaked in “In Flanders Fields, where poppies blow, between the crosses, row on row....”, John McCrae’s famous war-time lament.

It was important that we were taught to remember the deaths and the lives of those who fought in wars. We were taught to appreciate their sacrifices that allowed us to live safely in our country today.

November 11th, known as Remembrance Day in Commonwealth countries, is celebrated on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month every year. Originally known as Armistice Day, honouring the end of devastating WWI in 1918, on this day we now come together to remember those who served in the first world war the second world war, and beyond. Thanking those who fought, and currently fight, so that we can be ‘free’.

While I grew up understanding that Canadians had died in the pursuit of peace, I also internalised the sense that we were the force of good, and that we’d triumphed over evil.

Unfortunately, at some point in my life, things got more complicated when I had to grapple with having family on both sides of World War II. Many of my family came from Germany and German-speaking Poland. Many of them after World War II.

When veterans stood in our gymnasium on Remembrance day, I saw men that fought with my one grandfather… against my other grandfather.

While my one grandfather served in the Canadian Military during WWII, my other grandfather was, at the same time, a member of the Nazi German Military, along with many of his relatives. Recently I also learned that the Polish Army of the earlier WWI contained one of my relatives, which was definitely not on the ‘right’ side as I should understand it.

How do I face these facts on a day like Remembrance Day?

Do I remember my one Grandfather’s involvement with the ‘good’ side, and ignore the experiences of my family that were on the ‘bad’ side?

If soldiers hadn’t continued killing men like my grandfather, I would not have freedom and peace today.

My grandfather, who held me gently in his arms after I was born, bought me Christmas gifts, attended weddings, thanked God every day for the food on his plate and the safety of his family--was on the ‘wrong’ side with a gun.

Canadians and other Allied forces died in these wars. So did many of my family who were in Germany and Poland, part of the Axis and Central Powers. I would like to mourn both, but am I allowed on Remembrance Day?

The reality is that everyone involved in WWI and WWII suffered from the effects to some degree. The ‘good’ guys, the ‘bad’ guys, and every person stuck in that time. It is not an Indiana Jones movie or a battle-glorifying video game, where the enemy has been stripped of humanity and no longer garners compassion.

Real war is real pain for so many. Good and bad sides. Also, evil is evil not just because it creates victims, but also because it also creates perpetrators of more evil. Both good and bad sides became killers of their fellow humans because of these wars.

Canadians had to keep fighting for the end of this disastrous reality. As soon as it did end, they were free to choose peace instead. It gave them that chance.

As well, their triumphs also allowed my German and Polish relatives the option of peace, which they used to move to Canada. The end of these wars brought both sides an offer of freedom from killing.

I am so grateful that the Allied Forces fought to put an end to both WWI and WWII so that we could have peace in Canada.

But, I am also grateful that they offered my other relatives, who were the ‘bad guys’, the opportunity of peace.

Today I remember WWI and WWII veterans, for the freedom they offered both sides of my family.

Every Remembrance Day, I am going to thank God that these wars ended, and express gratitude to those who stopped them.

The stories and photos that I’ve included from my family below were real people with real pain, and I wish each of them never had to touch wartime. I wish none of them were involved in the war against their fellow humans.

Each person in a war is a human to me, and I am grateful for anyone who fought so that their fellow humans could have peace.

“If we'd all say a prayer that the world would be free
A wonderful dawn of a new day we'd see...
And if everyone lit just one little candle
What a bright world this would be”

My maternal grandmother was trying to live a peaceful life in what was called “East Prussia” at the time of WWII. The Russians, who were waging war on the power of Germany, were coming her way and my grandmother’s family had to flee. They were German speakers in the wrong place at the wrong time. While fleeing, their train was under fire from Russian fighter pilots. Shots riddled the train-car my grandmother was on, and she watched as her mother was hit and bled to death. I only learned about this through my own mother later in my life as my grandparents did not wish to relive the war if they could avoid it.

*My Grandmother on a boat coming to Canada after the war*

My grandfather, who my grandmother had yet to meet until they came to Canada, was German, and of an age that demanded he join the army. I don’t know my grandfather’s feelings towards Nazis while they rose to power, but I do know that he did not enjoy being in the German Forces. Knowing him, I would assume that he was probably swept up into the army like thousands of other men. Unsure, maybe disagreeing, maybe seeing some truth in the government's convictions, but ultimately fearing the deathly repercussions of even contemplating refusal to be in the war.

My grandfather was lucky to have poor eyesight, as it prevented him from being in some regular duties. He was a telephone line runner, ensuring communication between groups. I believe he still had to kill others while he on duty, but very infrequently, and only if necessary for his survival--it was not something he wanted to do. I hate that he had to do this, and I wish his life had never had to touch on this trauma.

*My Grandfather in his German Army uniform*

*My Grandfather at the top, while in the army.*

Both my grandmother and my grandfather came to Canada after surviving WWII, and chose not to speak of it to their grandchildren. Due to the war experience, my grandfather was very quiet, and didn’t talk much about his past, and my grandmother had some anxiety and health struggles, but overall they were very happy with their safety, their quiet lives, and the peace that they found in a new country. I grew up knowing a quiet couple that treasured me and my brother, and liked things peaceful around the home. Both my grandparents passed away in my early 20’s.

*My Grandmother and Grandfather, married in Canada*

My paternal grandfather was in the Canadian Forces but never had to land in Europe. However, knowing who he was, I believe the threat of one day being required to kill another person would have weighed heavily on him. I was 5 when he passed away, but I continue to hear stories about the respect he had in his Vancouver community, his kindness to others, and his deeply held convictions to follow Jesus. I am sad I didn’t really get to know him, and so I treasure the scrapbooks that my grandmother made for her grandkids with photos and stories of our family.

His wife, my now 91 year old grandma, the matriarch of our family, was born and raised in Vancouver, but her mother and father moved here from Poland. It is her father that served in the Polish Army during WWI. My grandma said her father moved here after that war because he was not enjoying being in Poland, where land was constantly being fought over by German, Russian, and Polish governments. He found it very unsettling and wished for a happier, safer, and better life. He came to Canada and met my great grandmother here, being married only 5 days after meeting each other. My great-grandmother had been living in Warsaw, Poland, and had come to Canada on her own, also leaving behind the constantly stressed country of her birth.

Trauma, Peace, Persistence, Grace, Integrity / June 25, 2018 by Robyn Rapske

Hillary McBride, Tenth Avenue Church, Vancouver, BC, June 25, 2018

This weekend I attended an event titled Spiritual Trauma, led by therapist, researcher, speaker and writer, Hillary McBride. Hillary is at the forefront of studying trauma, amongst other things, and I’ve heard her speak on the Liturgists podcast regarding Spiritual Trauma before. This blog post addresses mostly how Trauma impacts the work I do, but if you’d like more extensive information on Spiritual Trauma specifically, I’d recommend the podcast episode, if you can’t make it to one of her talks.

Talking about trauma can bring up difficult emotions for those who have experienced it, so if this post is making your body freak out, then I’d say not to bother reading it. I really don’t want to invoke a panic attack. Try these calming techniques if you're needing a moment of peace.

Due to working with women and families on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES), I encounter a lot of people with some pretty intense responses to past and current traumatic experiences. As a general outreach worker, my job is to offer support during various crises that women and families go through. I step directly into moments where they are either coping with real-time trauma or being reminded of a traumatic time in their lives.

My coworkers walking down a DTES alley on International Women's Day 2016

Despite having education in Social Work, I keep finding ways to expand on my understanding of trauma.

What is "trauma"? Well, that’s a huge topic on its own. I’m not an expert in the research and study of that topic. So instead, I will throw down a few points from my recent experience hearing Hillary teach on it.

Trauma, she pointed out, means “wound” in Greek. In our understanding of trauma, that “wound” can refer to something harming the body (eg. concussion), it can refer to something harming the mind (eg. emotional, verbal, financial abuse etc), or to the mingling of those two (eg. emotionally and physically abusive relationship leading to a concussion).

The brain is a leading factor in our response to trauma, in a confusing but amazing way.

One of its many attributes is that it has an intense survival instinct, with a variety of tools to support that instinct.

When something within the body is harmed (a broken bone, abusive language, etc), these tools jumps into gear without our conscious effort.

This, as Hillary taught us, is a form of “Sensory Memory”. When a traumatic event happens, the brain’s sensory system will memorize what exactly is happening in that moment. In the future, if anything similar begins to happen, the brain remembers that it’s time to activate fight/flight/freeze modes without consulting your conscious decision-making skills.

For instance, if you’re in a cycling accident with a car that ran a red light, next time you’re cycling and a car is coming up to another red light, regardless of whether it is properly stopping, your brain may send out signals to tense up and prepare to react quickly just in case it doesn’t. It wants to keep you alive and well, and regardless of your opinion on the matter, it will probably start an adrenaline rush in case it’s needed to keep you safe.

This is a great survival instinct, and it’s probably why we survive longer than age 6.

This is an unconscious action, and not something you can easily stop from happening. It is fantastic in this circumstance, as cycling can be dangerous if you’re not alert to dangers that are always quite real.

However, what if you were verbally abused by someone over time, and your brain imprints a survival instinct to tense up any time you’re around a person who resembles the one who verbally abused you? You can end up tense, anxious, and frightened whenever someone reminds you of that person, and it can be frustrating because those people may not actually be dangerous.

Just as the brain creates this imprint without consulting your conscious brain, likewise it won’t easily be changed by your conscious choices. Only with some intentional therapies, certain ongoing practices, and lots of time can we change our unconscious survival reactions.

It’s my experience that these are part of what we sometimes call “Triggers”. Being ‘triggered’ by an enclosed space, by the presence of a white male in power at a church, by hearing loud noises close by, by human touch, it’s all part of those learned survival tactics of the brain that may be frustrating, but they’re trying to keep you alive, and it’s hard to change them.

Pausing for a moment in what may seem like an irrelevant story but I swear, it’s not:

Recently my supervisor asked our team to read the books of the bible Ezra and Nehemiah (She is also a Reverend so she likes to refocus on the Bible when we're doing our work, which is nice)

In Ezra, God’s temple is being rebuilt in Jerusalem, but there are immense barriers to them completing it. People in power nearby created systemic pressures because they didn’t like how the Judeans’ God inspired people to be less subordinate to the kings. They stalled it and made everything harder in this pursuit given by God. Eventually, however, through persistence, the Judean people build the temple back up.

In Nehemiah, the Judeans begin to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, and this time they have the power of a wealthy king on their side giving them construction materials. However, they are still being discouraged from this task by others. The enemies of Judah plan violent surprise attacks. The people rebuilding the walls had to hold a sword in their hands to fight, as well as continue their efforts to build.

My supervisor asked me to think about what I am 'building up' in my life, and what my 'sword' is.

I’ve decided that what I’m trying to “Build” is Peace.

Peace in someone’s painful, chaotic moments
Peace between myself and others
Peace in everything and anything I have any influence over

I think of Peace as the opposite of trauma. If we have experienced trauma, aren't we always trying to find our way back to Peace?

As for what I have to “Battle” back at, I think that involves anything that threatens Peace.

In order to pursue Peace, and at the same time battle back against what discourages Peace, I use these three “swords”:

Persistence, Grace, Integrity

Persistence

It takes time, energy, supports, and commitment in order to heal from trauma. Studies in “Neuroplasticity” (the brain's ability to heal itself) show that it is possible to heal from trauma, but it can take a long time, and it involves dedicated supportive systems and significant helpful contributions to that healing. Hillary pointed out how, if we say the phrase ”Just get over it!” that we don’t understand how the brain works. It’s a long process and it has less to do with conscious decisions of ‘being over it’ and more to do with ongoing support, practice, and time to rewire the brain.

In my work--this means that I can show love, support, and care for someone over and over for the next 5 years, and might only see gradual changes, but I shouldn’t get discouraged, because it’s normal to take a long time to build back peace. The building of the temple in Jerusalem was interrupted for 15 years, and they must have been so tempted to be discouraged and give up--but they didn’t. So I shouldn’t.

Intergenerational Trauma is also a real thing which extends the time it takes to heal on a larger scale.

Intergenerational Trauma can be a result of environmental re-traumatizing--if the environment doesn’t change much, obviously the traumas just keep going. For example: Residential Schools happened in Canada beginning in the 1870’s, and then governments altered their policies, but continued the trend of separating kids from their families and cultures via the 60’s Scoop. From the 1960’s to the 1980’s, massive amounts of Indigenous children were moved from their families into foster care or adoption. As of 2016, 52% of kids in the foster care system in Canada were Indigenous, but across Canada, Indigenous children only represented 7.7% of the population. There’s not much chance to get out of the trauma of family separation, if it keeps continuing.

Scientifically they’re also discovering that, even if the environment changes, the brain and body can pass along genetic markers helping their offspring avoid certain traumatic experiences.

There is an experiment ongoing, which Hillary described, (if you’re an animal rights activist I’m sorry, you’ll hate this experiment), where mice are being given the scent of cherry blossoms right before receiving an electric shock in the foot. These mice developed a fear of the scent of cherry blossoms. When they inseminated female mice with the sperm of these fearful mice and baby mice were born--despite the mother and baby never being exposed to electric shocks or to the 'father' mouse, the baby hated the scent of cherry blossom scents! They’re still continuing the study--they’ve already confirmed that the genetic marker that creates a fear of cherry blossoms has been passed at least 2 generations.

This study is new, so we’ll learn much more about the reasons for this as science progresses, but it is beginning to create a scientific defence for what so many people have already known--that the learned responses to traumatic events can be passed along generations.

So for example, integrating this information into my own life; I work with a lot of Residential School survivors, 60’s Scoop Survivors, and the children and grandchildren of these survivors. Indigenous people and Settler people in Canada will have to keep working for many generations before things will be fully peaceful. It will take a long time for people to “get over” the fear of white people separating their families, and the distrust of government and churches.

This leads to my next important weapon:

Grace.

Just as God had Grace and sent Jesus to redeem us, save us, and make us whole, despite our inability to be ‘deserving’ of these gifts--I see Grace as an important part of loving, supporting, understanding, and being kind to people who may be acting out their responses to trauma in unhelpful ways in relationship with me.

If “Sensory Memories” can be created by trauma, and those memories can become “triggers” for people, this can mean that someone may have a horrible reaction to me without realizing that's why they are upset. It could be because of how I look, the way I speak, where I work, the religion I hold to, the way I pray, the power I am unaware I have--simply because one or some of these things resemble someone who has traumatized them or their family. The past trauma may not be my fault, but their reaction to who I am is overwhelming for them, and it is their brain’s learned response to protect themselves from someone like me.

Their biology is protecting them without them even realizing it.

Due to the nature of the community that I work within, I have been yelled at, screamed at, sworn at, I have been called a F***ing C***, I have been threatened, I have been called racist, I have been told I’m a bad Christian, I have had women throw very clever guilt-trips my way.

I don’t like being treated this way, but when I understand trauma, I am less concerned with feeling offended and indignant, and more concerned with what led them to need this survival tactic.

I still put in boundaries, such as saying “I believe your situation, and I want to hear more, but I’m feeling unsafe, so go take a break and cool off”. Or it can look like a physical barrier, when a man is unable to handle his emotions and starts smashing his fist against our door so we keep it closed.

It’s less about me, and more about their past, so I don’t take it as personally anymore. I have grace for their situation. I want to see them heal, rather than scold and judge them for their behaviours which are uncomfortable for me.

Integrity

Integrity can be meant in many ways, but I understand that integrity means that one's words match one's actions.

If I know how trauma is a huge part of everyone’s lived experiences, and I say I care about fostering Peace for others, then it only makes sense that I take action to create that Peace.

One example of how I’m trying to match my beliefs to my actions, is through my use of words.

I try not to use words that others identify as ‘triggers’ when I know what they are. Not only for individual traumas, but for collective traumas.

After understanding our body’s response to trauma, I don’t see avoiding “taboo” words as being “Politically Correct”, I see it as understanding the instinctive reaction that someone’s brain is going through, and doing my best to help avoid triggering it. Hillary didn’t relate her teaching on trauma to this concept, but I think it can be applied.

Ijeoma Oluo says in her book "So You Want To Talk About Race?":

“The history of a word matters as long as the effects of that history are still felt”.

I would say that this history of trauma associated with a word will probably be felt until the environment changes and the generational trauma is given a chance to heal.

Indigenous people still feel racism, so the word “Indian” matters. It was used in ideologies such as “Kill the Indian, Save the Man” to justify cultural genocide (Richard Pratt, as cited in Cheryl Bear-Barnetson’s book). It was used in racial slurs and still is. So I won’t use it outside of explaining why it’s inappropriate. I don’t want to trigger the trauma that is associated with that word.

Maybe Indigenous people themselves will use that word, but I’m part of the group of people that wielded it in terrible ways, so my use of it can be very triggering.

If I say I care about not triggering the historical and ongoing trauma in people, this is one example of how my behaviour matters in order to create that.

I know it sounds like a lot of work, and sometimes it can be.

But honestly, it’s quite helpful.

Not only can I personally cope a lot better with the trauma I see in the world if I find something to do about it, but it also really impacts people around me for the better.

I have heard and seen miraculous things when women and families are given the safety of a place that makes efforts not to re-traumatize them. They may not be able to express it all the time, but I see it in their trust of me, in how they know that we will always be there for them.

Change flourishes in those places. I’ve seen women grow so much stronger than they thought they could, because they were given opportunities to be safe, and to rewire their brains slowly towards more Peace. They did hard work of healing, but the context is a huge help.

People sometimes talk about my job like I’m willingly doing the most painful work in the world.

But actually, this job gives me more hope than I thought I could have in a world full of trauma and pain. Women have a much better chance to heal in a place full of safety, peace, love, and non-judgemental care, so if we can help create more of that, there is hope.

Peace

Perseverance

Grace

Integrity

The Clumsy Efforts of Reconciliation in One White Life Part 2 / June 10, 2018 by Robyn Rapske

I care about the well being of other people. A lot of people do. Every church I’ve been in claims this as a value and a basic belief.

Since entering my 20’s I’ve tried widening my perspective on how to do this well. This has meant a lot of learning. Who others are, why they are struggling with life, how they’d like to be treated by others, what structures are in place that are harming them, etc

Getting better at helping others is not easy, and I struggle to do it. It’s difficult when I’m tired, when I’m commuting, when I harbour resentment towards someone, when I just feel like I can’t read more stories about suffering. I’ve had to learn about what appropriate boundaries are for my own wellbeing, and what are just defensive mechanisms of avoidance to learning more. It’s been complicated and imperfect. But still, I keep trying.

One of those things that I’ve been trying to learn more about and widen my perspective on is:

Racism

That big, confusing, dark, painful thing.

Systemic racism, and the racist acts supported by this system, hurts my closest friends, my coworkers, my fellow church goers. Many of the people I know on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside are suffering from it. The authors of many books I’m reading are harmed by it. It touches unbelievably large amounts of people I will never meet.

In my home country of Canada, racism also disproportionately harms Indigenous people in very painful ways, so this post ends up talking a lot about how to improve our reconciliation efforts.

I am just one person talking about my one experience as a white person. If you would like to learn a lot more than what I can offer, and from the lips of people who are my teachers in all of this, I think highly of these books from my recent readings:

“So You Want To Talk About Race” by Ijeoma Oluo
“I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness” by Austin Channing Brown
“Introduction to First Nations Ministry” by Cheryl Bear-Barnetson

The hardest thing about trying to battle back the racism for my loved ones, is that systemic racism has touched my life in so many multi-faceted ways;

I’m White, and I didn’t realize that my life benefitted from that fact.
I grew up without consciously realizing I, myself, was embodying racist beliefs.
I didn’t realize that systems of my country were supporting racism and sustaining structures to keep racism in place.
When I realized that racism was bigger and closer to my life than previously thought, I tried to improve, and ended up being slow and sluggish at improving.
I’m currently doing my best, and I am still so, so behind.

But,

I care about the well being of others.

So even if I can’t perfect these efforts, they're worth working at.

Sometimes it’s nice to learn from other people’s mistakes. If you can watch someone else’s mistakes before you make them, you can skip the harm you may cause another person, or yourself.

Although this feels a bit vulnerable, I’m going to air out some of my mistakes as I’ve begun to realize them.

Also, at a recent event I attended, Registered Clinical Counsellor, Hillary McBride, pointed out that shame, which keeps us from loving ourselves, doesn’t actually change us, and in fact it drives us into even more dysfunctional behaviour. So I share these things with as little shame as I can manage for myself, without losing the level of conviction necessary.

Oh, also, if you’re not White, you’ve probably heard/experienced enough racism, so feel free to skip these confessions if you don’t want to have to deal with some of this racist history of mine.

Mistake #1

From high school into my early 20’s, I genuinely used to think that I was 'above' racism because I had a Congolese friend, a Persian friend, a Nigerian friend, a few Chinese friends, and a Phillipino friend.

What I've Learned:

Just because I have valued and loved people who are part of a group that has historically suffered oppression due to their skin colour, does not make me immune to racism. It’s not like a vaccine, I was not protected from the many unrealized misdeeds I probably did, unaware of how racist they were. I cringe at wondering what I've said and done without realizing the racism that inspired me to act that way.

This belief I’d had also created the even more troubling effect of preventing me from making further efforts to see what racist behaviours I had. Like a false-negative test for cancer, I couldn’t treat the thing that existed if I didn’t think I had it. And worse still, in this case the problem harms someone else other than me if I don’t treat it.

I'm very grateful for the teaching of professors, authors, film directors, friends, and musicians, who led me to realize I had deeper problems going on.

Mistake #2

I didn’t see Indigenous people until my early 20's.

I grew up in Canada, so obviously I must have seen Indigenous people around, but what I mean is that I did not really see them. If an Indigenous person walked past me, my brain categorized them as just some other ethnicity that I didn’t fully recognize and didn’t bother finding out about.

What I've Learned:

This blindness is probably because I learned about Indigenous people in the context of the incomplete history given to me by my schools. In textbooks, Indigenous people were historical figures only, with a brief synopsis of how they ‘lived their lives in longhouses’ or something. I didn’t see an Indigenous person as someone who could be shopping at the mall with me, in class with me, eating next to me at the McDonald's. They were firmly stationed in my brain as a historical people no longer rooted in current Canada.

This meant I knew nothing of how the complex and painful history of Indigenous people in Canada was affecting peaople today, in our society, in my own life. It wasn’t until my I attended UVic’s Social Work program that I learned about the darker sides of the history more in-depth, learned from Indigenous teachers themselves, and understood how this was affecting our country today.

I thank God for the eye opening education I received there.

Mistake #3

Even as I began to see Indigenous people, I feared their traditional cultural practices. I thought they were dangerous, full of idolatry. It was entrenched within me, this fear, from how I’d been taught about them in my church. Who knows how many times it came out horribly in my words and actions and general lack of support for Indigenous people's cultural practices.

What I've Learned:

Well, I’ve learned a lot about Christianity and Indigenous beliefs. First of all, I did not grow up understanding that I lived in a particular, man-made culture. So I did not see that this culture was just one unique way of expressing one’s life. I didn’t know that my western style of worshipping God, honouring God, and communing with God was not the only way to do so. Second of all, I was either fed misinformation about Indigenous cultural practices, or not taught about them at all.

To start, I’ll illustrate this with an example. Smudging freaked me out. I didn't understand it, and it felt like a spooky, strange, 'savage' practice. What I found out, is that it's multifaceted and wonderful. Smudging can just be another practice to use in connection with God (Creator). It can be used as a physical act of preparation for praying with God. It can also be used to dedicate a new home or an important room to God, just as I've seen oil used to anoint a new home while pastors pray over it. Another example: I thought that Indigenous people worshipped animals and nature and ‘mother earth’ in idolatry. I didn’t remember that Christian scriptures are absolutely full of talk that animals and nature are innately tied to God. Although every nation is unique, generally, traditional Indigenous practices respect and honour creation with a variety of ceremonies or prayers with the ultimate goal to respect and honour Creator God. How beautiful!

In “Introduction to First Nations Ministry”, Cheryl Bear-Barnetson of the Nadleh Whut’en First Nation, writes:

“A question that burns in the mind of every non-Native Christian when thinking about Indians: ‘Is Indian religion evil?” That is a valid question for American or Canadian people to ask, however it is very offensive for a Native person to hear. Please do not think that indigenous people are overly sensitive, they are not. After five hundred years of being scrutinized, stereotyped, and misunderstood, indigenous people often feel overly exposed. Christians react in a similar fashion when radical Islamists state that Christianity is a false, polytheistic religion.”

In her book, Cheryl provided much more information about Indigenous beliefs, which helped chip further and further away at that ignorant fear of mine. Again, if you're Christian and Canadian and not Indigenous, please consider reading it. It's not even very expensive on Amazon.ca.

These are just some examples of how I’ve accidentally done wrong, and some of what I’ve learned along the way. I have spent a lot of mental energy trying not to say and do the wrong things, expanding my knowledge on how to be less racist.

However, what I’ve been learning through the wisdom of others, including in the books I’ve recently read, is that this still isn’t enough.

Racism exists in systems, in people, and in culture. That’s how I ended up having these ideas in the first place.

Aside from talking about racism here, and changing the thoughts inside my own head, I should also be seeking ways to actively battle back at racism in larger society.

It’s not just about me keeping my ‘street cred’ as a ‘nice person’--coming off as someone not actively doing racist stuff. It’s about going out of my way to try changing the systems that people with my skin colour have been benefited from on the backs of people without my skin colour.

Ijeoma Oluo says in her book:

“We cannot understand race and racial oppression if we cannot talk about it….But understanding, on its own, will never equal action.”

“Talk. Please talk and talk and talk some more. But also act. Act now, because people are dying in this unjust system. How many lives have been ground up by racial prejudice and hate….We have to learn and fight at the same time. Because people have been waiting far too long for their chance to live as equals in this society”

But what to do? The anxiety of feeling overwhelmed with how many problems there are is real.

Well, Ijeoma provides some good examples in her book, which I encourage you to get ahold of (It’s even in a wonderful audiobook format). I won’t list all of her suggestions here, as that would make this post even longer than it already is, but here are some.

My husband Thomas suggested to me that I pick one of Ijeoma's ideas, and commit to doing it, using the accountability of writing it here to get it done. It’s a fair point; my inner integrity won’t be satisfied if I don’t commit to doing what I said I would here.

One of Ijeoma’s suggestions is:

“Vote for diverse government representatives. Help put people of color into the positions of power where they can self-advocate for the change that their communities need. Support candidates of color, and support platforms that make diversity, inclusion, and racial justice a priority.”

She also suggests:

“Get in schools. Do you know what the racial achievement gap is in your school district?”

Well, we have an election coming up in Vancouver for mayor, city councillors, park board commissioners, and school board trustees. This seems like a great opportunity to use voting powers that I don’t use as much as I could. Although I’ve participated in local elections more in my adult years, I haven’t really put the energy I could into influencing it with my vote. And not just in researching the candidates to vote for the 'best' option, but rather making my voice heard in all of the candidates offices.

Also, I clearly like writing, so why am I not writing letters and emails to candidates in elections? I can make my desires quite clear, pointing out that if they want my vote, this is what I will care about and vote for. This can address those in power as well as the ones making significant decisions in Vancouver schools.

If I find someone I really support, then would I consider volunteering for them? Giving them donations? I suppose we’ll have to see.

Nominations are in September, but already there is a lot of talk around who is running, and that gives me plenty of time to get some letters ready.

This list can grow and change, and should, as I learn more, and the world changes. Are there protests to join? Petitions to sign? Things in my workplace that I can highlight and change? It’ll be important to pay attention.

Again, the imperfections of my attempts are going to continue being so real, but I shouldn’t get disheartened. The efforts are worth it.

If I can call myself a Christian, I can be reminded that this is part of my deepest beliefs:

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.
Mark 12:30-31

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8

Calling It Bravery / May 27, 2018 by Robyn Rapske

Recently Thomas and I travelled for over two weeks. We celebrated his Masters program graduation in Philadelphia, we visited some friends in Scotland, and then we finished off with a few nights in London. It was a whirlwind, and I loved it. Feeling the pride of Thomas’s accomplishments, seeing my friends’ new baby in Scotland, meeting up in London with a friend for a show--it was all so wonderful.

However, as I posted pictures of our escapades on my social media pages, and received exclamations from friends over what grand adventures we seemed to be having, I thought about the stuff that didn’t make it on Instagram. I posted about castles, hikes, food, landmarks and monuments. I had a fantastic time commentating on the wonderful sights we were seeing.

But there was other stuff that I dealt with while travelling. Stuff I didn’t think people wanted to see.

I have sincere, uncomfortable, frustrating fears around travelling. And I travelled anyways. And I was proud of myself for it. I call it ‘bravery’. But that felt weird to post on Instagram, so I didn’t. However, why not? I'll do it now!

People who know me well, will know I have lot of fears, as I try to be vocal about what gets me anxious. Speaking about these fears can help me name them and find humour in them. The list of things that make me afraid is large, and has varying degrees of intensity from day to day. I think the only person in the world who might know all of them is Thomas, and even he forgets about some.

One of these things is heights. Another is the related sensation of falling from a great height. You’ll never find me bungee jumping or doing any free-fall amusement park rides. It makes my stomach churn.

Unfortunately, both of these fears tie in closely to flying.

Sitting 37,000 feet in the air, relying on the skills of flawed humans to put together a powerful engine and a sturdy metal structure to ensure that I don’t die by falling is terrifying to me.

In 2010, my fear of flying began to show up when I made the long trek to Zambia and South Africa.

In 2016, when I went to Calgary for Christmas with my brother’s family, leading up to the trip and during the trip I had a constant, nagging anxiety at the knowledge that I’d have to fly again soon. It was very unpleasant.

By 2017 I knew I’d struggled through too many flights with gripping anxiety, so I decided I would finally accept the help of drugs. Flying to Philadelphia, and then home from New York, I gave my body the kindness of Ativan.

So a month ago, knowing that I’d be boarding six different planes for varying flight lengths, I had the Ativan ready. But as I kept checking in with my body, I was surprised to notice that the tell-tale anxieties weren’t starting. As we drove to the airport, sat in security checks, and found our boarding gate, nothing escalated. I wasn’t sure why this was happening, I found it quite interesting.

It would have been absolutely fine and kind to my body to pop the Ativan and fly, in anticipation that I might get anxious later on.

But I wanted to see what my body would do. I thought I’d try out it’s limits. So I breathed through the parts of flying I hate the most (take off and landing *shiver*), and lo! I made it through five of the six flights on our trip without the assistance of Ativan.

Each flight I waited to see what my body would do. I breathed through anxious moments and waited to see if they’d go away. Thomas complimented me each time I didn't pop my Ativan. It was wonderful to feel like I was overcoming the thing that makes me afraid.

That sixth trip, however, was a 9.5 hour flight home from London, in which the stresses prior to boarding were more than usual, and I was not feeling at ease.

I got through the takeoff, and the anxiety didn’t calm down. The sweaty palms, the racing thoughts, and the desire to cry was not going away. I decided that the line was too far. The anxiety was too much. I took my Ativan.

And that, by the way, is fine. I’m not going to hold on to any stigma that taking Ativan was weak. I personally found my bravery in seeing if I could try to do the thing that scares me without the help of a drug, but at some point, I think it becomes unkind to my body to push through unnecessary pain. So I was brave five times, and one time I was kind to myself. At no point do I consider my experience ‘weakness’.

There were many other times that anxiety accompanied my experience throughout the trip, and I had to decide what was a limit to push through and what was not worth it.

Would I do the hike that hugged cliffs, wind pushing at my body, the sea and rocks below? I did. I needed Thomas to hold my hand at parts, but I did it. I had my reasons for trying.

Should I climb the tower to overlook Edinburgh, protected only by a small railing? My knees shook terribly, but I did it for the view, and after some photos promptly scurried down the spiral steps and drank water at the bottom while my heart rate cooled off.

I also had to face the question of whether or not I could even travel in my current condition. I’ve had chronic fatigue and brain fog since November last year from a concussion, and I had no way of knowing what my limits would be on this trip. I had a LOT of anxiety about worst case scenarios. And in part, they were slightly merited. My short time in Edinburgh was spent wondering how I’d get through each next hour, because my brain felt like it wanted to quit. And I did have to quit once we arrived in London, I missed out on the British Museum because of it. The majority of a day in London was spent doing very little, feeling very poorly, despite having only 2 full days to explore the city. But again, despite all of these fears and possible outcomes, I wanted to travel, it was worth it to me, so I tried being brave. And I'm so glad I travelled.

Each of us, I feel, have our own things to be brave about. These fears of mine seem like little battles in the very great troubles of the world. But they are my battles. And unfortunately they haunt my life in a way that only I will ever really understand. There are a lot more of them, which I won’t get into now, and I’m sure we all have our own sampling of them. Maybe for you it’s eating alone in the cafeteria, writing exams, talking to that intimidating coworker, attending an event you only know one person at, etc.

I know how silly my fears can sound--oh ‘bravery’ in such privileged circumstances. ‘Bravery’ in such glamour as being able to travel. I understand. To a degree.

It is still my reality, and the biological responses of what scares me are real. Therefore my bravery to face these issues is also very real.

So when someone comes to me and describes that they’ve done this seemingly mundane life activity that actually terrifies them completely, I am so excited for them! Although we have different fears, I know that feeling. I acknowledge that, for them, this was a horribly terrifying experience, and I’m very proud of their bravery to do what they did.

At the same time, if they were paralyzed by that fear and did not feel they could face it that day, I also get that! I understand. And I’ll let them know that just because one day they didn’t face that fear, doesn’t mean that they never will.

It’s up to each of us to face our fears. We know ourselves better than anyone else, and if we push ourselves, it’s because whatever we’re thinking of pushing through is worth it to us. And if our ‘pushing through’ looks different than others’, that’s okay too.

My bravery feels like bravery because I call it that. Maybe that's just me. I try not to call it ‘just getting through life’, or say ‘it’s pathetic that I deal with this fear’, because naming it ‘bravery’ is kinder to myself. Some loved ones call it bravery too. Thomas holds my hand and looks me in the eye and says he’s proud of me when I fly. When I hiked next to that terrifying cliff, he told me he was proud of me. My mom always said she was proud of me for doing things that she knew were scary for me. My closest friends never shame me for my fears, but smile and say they’re glad I did the thing that I wanted to do despite the fears.

I’m trying to take heart in my own bravery, unique to the things that are hard for me. I would love to see you do the same, and I will try to be a good support to you, if I meet you when you’re facing a fear.

In the theme of this being Mental Health Awareness Month, please consider your own mental health and the mental health of others around you.

Dear White Friends, / June 7, 2020 by Robyn Rapske

Dear White Friends,(and non-White friends who are trying to understand my White friends)

Keep Making Mistakes. Keep Learning.

“You’re going to screw this up royally. More than once...It’s going to happen, and you should have these conversations anyways.” - Ijeoma Oluo, So You Want To Talk About Race

White Fragility: “I’m Not A Racist!”

“The most common definitions of racism (in my own summation) are as follows: (1) Racism is any prejudice against someone because of their race. Or (2) Racism is any prejudice against someone because of their race, when those views are reinforced by systems of power”

“The truth is, you don’t even have to “be racist” to be part of the racist system”

“Systemic racism is a machine that runs whether we pull the levers or not, and by just letting it be, we are responsible for what it produces. We have to actually dismantle the machine if we want to make change.” Oluo p. 30

Misdirecting the Conversation

Austin Channing Brown: We are not going to hug our way to justice.

Now What?

Recommendations

Videos to Watch:

Podcast to Listen To: (RECOMMEND SO MUCH)

Social Media to Follow (Instagram):

Organizations To Donate To (Canadian):

Businesses to Buy From:

Online Training to Take:

Teaching Resource for Teachers:

Online Resources to Read:

Books to Buy & Read:

These books regarding anti-Black racism (in the USA)

These books regarding Indigenous experiences and racism (in Canada and the USA)

Feeling Some Anxiety? Me Too. / March 15, 2020 by Robyn Rapske

Pandemic

The knowledge that anxiety is normal and I’m not weird for having it (especially right now!)

2. The need to try new things to help with anxiety. Going with what works for me.

3. Knowing that the anxiety will eventually calm, change, or become more manageable.

#FlattenTheCurve

Learning to Filter Unsolicited Advice / January 22, 2019 by Robyn Rapske

Remembrance Day. Honouring both sides of my family history. / November 12, 2018 by Robyn Rapske

Trauma, Peace, Persistence, Grace, Integrity / June 25, 2018 by Robyn Rapske

Persistence, Grace, Integrity

Persistence

Grace.

Integrity

Peace

Perseverance

Grace

Integrity

The Clumsy Efforts of Reconciliation in One White Life Part 2 / June 10, 2018 by Robyn Rapske

Calling It Bravery / May 27, 2018 by Robyn Rapske

If you'd like to donate to an organization that I really like, which addresses mental health, try out Libero Magazine here:

Libero Magazine

Dear White Friends,
(and non-White friends who are trying to understand my White friends)

“You’re going to screw this up royally. More than once...It’s going to happen, and you should have these conversations anyways.”
- Ijeoma Oluo, So You Want To Talk About Race