Temper Temper

The last time I got furious with everyone and called in a backhoe to rip off an entire wing of a beloved, symbolic, public building was . . . Wait a minute. I have never done that.

But I know about temper tantrums.

As a general rule, I am not given to having temper tantrums when things don’t go my way. At some point I learned the world doesn’t revolve around me. But I certainly have had temper tantrums — most people do when they are little children.

One day, when I was really little, my mother insisted it was time for me to take my nap. I got so mad that I threw all the toys out of my bedroom and into the hall (thereby proving my mother’s point that I was tired and needed a nap).

Fat lot of good it did me. I still had to take a nap. Also, I had to clean up my mess.

Photo by Zahra Amiri on Unsplash

Around 30 years later, I participated in a workshop called Opening the Heart. For one of the exercises, we were invited to have temper tantrums. We laid down on our backs on the floor and were asked to think of all the things we wanted to say “no” to. Then we stamped our feet and shouted “NO”! The exercise certainly rang distant memory bells for me. It unleashed the unmatched fury of the 2-year-old inside me. It may sound strange, but the exercise felt cleansing, freeing . . . and also pretty humorous, if I am honest.

But then we were asked to switch gears and think of all the things we wanted to say “yes” to. We were invited to stamp our feet again, this time shouting “YES"! That felt qualitatively different. Affirming my dreams and aspirations felt invigorating, even joyful.

I no longer remember what I shouted "NO!” about all those years ago, but there is plenty afoot in the world today that makes me want to stamp my feet and raise my voice in protest. Anything that involves cruelty, malice, greed, or hatred. Anything that involves callousness, dishonesty, and manipulation. There’s a lot of those kinds of things going around.

But today I want to stop to consider some of the things I want to say YES to. I say yes to anything that involves generosity, kindness, and love. Also, freedom, dignity, and respect. My YES list is pretty long. For now, let me mention just a few things that relate directly to today’s world — I mean, literally, today, when hunger is now being weaponized in the United States.

You probably know the whole saga of the current regime planning to cut of SNAP benefits, thereby threatening starvation to those who are food-insecure — all to force the regime’s agenda. By withholding SNAP benefits, the regime is demonstrating its indifference to those who are truly hungry. The news out of Washington keeps changing on this topic. At the moment, the administration says it will fund SNAP, but in a delayed way and with reduced benefits. Where this all ends up is still to be determined.

But, in the meantime, the little, regular, every-day people are making plans to fill the crater of need. The usual suspects are stepping forward. Religious institutions are collecting food or providing meals. Citizens are donating extra funds to food banks. In addition to those kinds of tried-and-true measures, I have been moved by some unique, creative programs that have bubbled up from the rank-and-file population. Here are a few examples:

• Two local restaurants are collaborating to make meals with which to stock the freezer at the local YMCA on Tuesdays. If you need a meal, simply take one — no questions asked. In addition, the YMCA will open its locker rooms that day for anyone who needs a place to take a shower. (See below if you are interested in finding out more.)*

• The Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets will make emergency $15 vouchers available to anyone who presents their EBT card at a participating Maine Harvest Bucks market. People can present their EBT cards — even if they are empty — to receive the $15 voucher. (See below if you are interested in finding out more.)**

• Through Facebook, I subscribe to the local Buy Nothing page for my town. Frequently — daily or sometimes even more often than that — people post things like: “I made lasagna (or soup or chicken pot pie or fill-in-the-blank) tonight for my family, and I have an extra tray of it to donate to someone who needs a meal.” Or “I am a small, local baker. Today I made extra bread and would like to donate it to people who are hungry."

Who’s doing this? Just people. People with no particular power or wealth but with hearts filled with compassion for those who are struggling.

On this blog I have often lifted up the power of “We the People,” those stirring first words of the United States Constitution. The Constitution, of course, lays out the form of governance for the United States:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

But, from what I can see, “We the People” isn’t just all about how voting works or legislative bodies are composed. It isn’t just about how the justice system is constructed. And it isn’t just about the amendments to the Constitution, ratified to provide better clarity and to expand justice. Forming a “more perfect Union” — at least as far as I am concerned — also means we treat one another in certain ways. With respect and dignity. With compassion and generosity. With the understanding that we are all traveling this road together, and “We the People” need one another.

So, if people are hungry, we step up. We do what we can. The examples I listed above are generous and creative. And I am sure there are similar generous and creative initiatives taking shape all across the country right now. I say YES to all of it. YES to reaching out. YES to using what we have to help others. YES to caring and sharing. YES.

Of course, people step up to help one another in all kinds of ways. I list food insecurity here are just an example — mainly because the need is so great and the issue is on so many minds and hearts. But, off the top of my head, I can think of many, many other ways people reach out to build community with one another. Volunteering to read stories to children at the local library. Accompanying immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers to their court appointments. Rallying, writing letters to their elected representatives, and speaking out — all in favor of restoring and preserving democracy. Working on legislation that addresses climate change and protects the environment. Organizing Halloween parades for children. Rescuing animals from kill shelters and providing foster care for them. Organizing benefit concerts for charitable causes. Providing free health care for those without funding. Teaching our children.

My list of YES goes on and on and on. Which makes me wonder: What makes you want to stamp your feet and shout YES? I’d love to hear from you. Post a comment here or send me an email. Together, let’s create our list of hope.

Love,

Sylvia

P. S. Below are details of the two programs I noted above. If you live in the Brunswick/Bath, Maine, area and you need help procuring food, do reach out to these two organizations. If you live in the area (or even if you don’t) and you are able to donate, the information below explains how to do so.

*Family Fridge at the Brunswick Landing

If you need dinner, take dinner...no questions asked. We are deeply concerned by the upcoming loss of food assistance in our community. Starting Tuesday (Election Day), Wild Oats Bakery & Café and Flight Deck will be placing and stocking community fridges at the Landing Y. Our teams will prep, cook, and fill these fridges every Tuesday through November. Meals are free for anyone who needs food — individuals and families. The Y’s showers, bathrooms, and facilities are also open for anyone to use during pickup between 5:30AM and 8:00PM.

Want to help? Add a $10 “Family Fridge” donation at checkout at Flight Deck or Wild Oats. Every $10 adds an additional family-sized amount of food to the fridge. Any donation dollars we can’t use for further stocking the Landing fridges will be directed to MCHPP (Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program) to support their ongoing work.

**Where: Landing Y

(24 Venture Ave, Brunswick Landing)

**When: Tuesdays 5:30 AM - 8:00 PM

**What: Ready-to-eat or heat meals

** Maine Federation of Farmers Markets

Maine Federation of Farmers Markets is making emergency Maine Harvest Bucks vouchers available to SNAP participants, whether they have funds on their EBT cards or not.

How it works:

Bring your EBT card to a participating Maine Harvest Bucks market, even if there are no funds on it. Visit the market Info Booth and show your card. They’ll give you $15 in Maine Harvest Bucks. Spend the Bucks with any vendor on fresh fruit or vegetables. You can do this every time you visit a farmers’ market in the month of November.

SNAP customers are an essential part of Maine’s farmers market community. If you don’t receive SNAP benefits but want to help support this work, please visit mainefarmersmarkets.org to make a donation! You can also visit the info booth at farmers market and ask to make a donation there.

It’s important to us to keep the food access programs at farmers markets running as seamlessly as possible, because they are good for both farmers and customers. It’s also clear from conversations with Midcoast Hunger Prevention Program that our food banks are already experiencing higher demand, and so continuing to serve people at the places where they are already shopping (like farmers markets) will help lessen the pressure that will come when November SNAP benefits aren’t loaded on to EBT cards.

Photo by Chang Duong on Unsplash