Group Therapy

This past week, I was reminded of the power of doing important stuff with other people and how you can be motivated, encouraged and powered by the determination of others. I don’t mean blindly following herds with a sheep-like mentality, but how being a part of a movement with other people can feed the movement and feed you.

My first reminder was standing in a long line to early vote. The library opened at 9 a.m. I arrived at 9:30 and the line was already outside of the building with several loops and turns leading inside. I struck up a conversation with my fellow voters and, while we were not happy to be waiting, we weren’t frustrated because we knew we had an important job to do. We spent time in line fellowshipping and discussing what was next after the election. The two hours spent in line, wearing three inch heels no less, with that group was well spent.

Line to early vote at 100th and Oglesby

Unwise shoe decision for line-waitin’

Next reminder was another line-waiting experience to pick up my race packet for the Hot Chocolate 15K/5K race in Chicago. Again, an unanticipated two hours spent on a rainy and chilly day waiting outside in another loopy line to get my bib number and branded sweatshirt. Bonus lesson about patience and embodying tenants from the Book of Job…but more on that in a later post. The guy ahead of me had participated in this race before, in addition to other races in Chicago, and we talked about how ridiculous the line was, but also about his training regiment and how great the race community was in Chicago. Once our wait ended, we bid each other farewell and good luck on the race. And when I got up at the crack of dawn the next day to run, the energy of the runners around me was overwhelming – well worth my week of ensuing knee pain.

Line to pick up Hot Chocolate race packet

Preparing to run Hot Chocolate 5K

Finally, on Tuesday, the day of the election, while I was participating in a meeting for work, I received an email about potential voter confusion (read: suppression) in my neighborhood. I immediately posted this incident on my social media networks and asked my virtual groups to spread the word in case this was happening elsewhere. Indeed it was and the groups in Chicago and L.A. got the word out for people to demand their right to vote despite redrawn districts and moved polling places.

When I was on my 28-day detox journey this summer, the detox instructor told us while this is a process that people can conceivably do on their own, it is always better and yields greater results if you can do it in a group. The group dynamic pushes you to do your best and gives you comfort in knowing other people are going through the same difficulties, discoveries, and dilemmas you are. With the recent election, we see the power that can be harnessed within groups or as the pundits call them “coalitions.” Power, truly and always, to the people!

Election night