Wow I feel like we’re really going for it with an enemies post during Pride month because, honestly…what’s the opposite of an ally or accomplice? (It’s an enemy. That’s the antonym.)
Are there people who make our blood boil, who live rent free in our head, who stand against everything we stand for, not in a chill disagreeing way but in a harm-causing way? Have you ever found yourself the unwilling target of someone who sees you as a nemesis in their narrative, when you really don’t see your role in the story as particularly powerful, as worthy of this demonization? Or, do we refuse to engage with the idea of enemies, to let our thoughts of the people who we don’t align with slip through our minds and away? Do we land somewhere in between?
I asked the team to tell us about their relationship to any enemies they have, how they deal, and how they cope. This roundtable isn’t so much about any enemies themselves, but about how we’re handling adversarial relationships with our fellow humans. Because, listen, it’s really difficult to go through life and to do anything, to try for anything, to work to change anything without running into people who have opposing feelings and beliefs and goals, without having to deal with people who would rather you didn’t change anything. Sometimes, it can all feel very much like a “no good deed goes unpunished” situation. (And with others, sometimes we have to admit, there are times where we’re genuinely in the wrong.) Still, at the end of the day, enemies or no, we’re still here. And I’m so glad you’re here, A+ member. If you’d like to share how you deal or how you’re struggling with enemies, we’d love to hear from you in the comments. Sending you so much love!!!
xoxo,
Nicole
