Welcome to What the F*rk Fridays!
There’s a lot happening in our country and in the world on a daily basis. It’s overwhelming and almost every day I find myself yelling out – It’s just too damn much!
My mind, heart, and soul can’t handle it and yet because there’s so much, I also feel like I’m missing out on so much information!
In the midst of this chaos, I began to keep a journal and calling it “What the F*ck” Friday. They were entries where I was trying to reflect on and process what had happened during the week. I’ve decided to share that sentiment here. I’ve changed it to “What the F*rk” Fridays as a nod to one of my favorite shows, “The Good Place.” My hope is that on Fridays, I can do a recap of my thoughts on events and issues. It might be something random, serious, funny – we’ll see how this goes!
For today, on this first official What the F*rk Friday, I want to discuss how Gen Zers have shown themselves to be the next generation powerhouse of change that those before them have been unable to do. Take a look at this young woman who spoke so boldly in front of a committee in Kansas City, MO advocating for protesters and speaking against the hatred shown by the police.
I’m beyond encouraged. Gen Zers are changing the world. We’ve seen this with their advocacy in person, online, in their collaboration and support for one another. They are brave, courageous, outspoken, intelligent, and passionate.
Obviously change doesn’t happen overnight and we’ve each done our part to dismantle the corrupt, racist, oppressive, marginalizing systems that have been built in this country by white men in the name of white supremacy. We’ve each participated over the years of speaking out, collaborating, and fighting together, written, spoken, advocated, and demanded change. So Gen Zers alone aren’t the only ones who are making the changes. But what I am excited about is how they’re seizing this moment as a collective. They’re no longer in this mindset of every man for themselves but rather every person connected together to build and heal a community. It gives me chills. It makes me eager for what’s to come.
As someone who has worked with youth for the last 27 years, I know it’s young people who uproot, create change, advocate for the marginalized and oppressed. For the rest of us, may we come alongside and follow their leadership and brilliance. May we contribute our wisdom and experience to build the world they deserve to have.
Questions to challenge ourselves with:
–How can we continue to advocate for young people to speak up and out?
–How are we stepping aside and down to allow young people to take the reigns and direct where we’re headed?
–How are we mentoring, advising, counseling young people so they don’t have to waste time making the same mistakes we did in the past?
–How are we collaborating and creating with young people for new innovative ways to make the world a place that is reflective of peace, love, freedom, and joy we all desperately want it to be?
