If you're reading this, healthy 2021 wishes. These days, my more frequently updated blog is the one associated with my website, www.padmavenkatraman.com.
But as I've done before on this site, I wanted to record and copyright my words - as people have in the past appropriated something I said that they liked and used it as if it were their own words.
The week of X'mas I was at a funeral. After that I was spending a few quiet days with my family, off social media, pretty much. Then I was forced to return to a situation that wasn't pretty. I was misquoted and my words were twisted and I had to waste time deleting hate mail. It wasn't the way I wanted to spend the holiday, but you know what?
I realized it gave me an opportunity to put into practice my ideas on nonviolence and practice peace. So I made a video and sent a few messages on social media. And here's a short poem created from those posts - the sort of poem you might display on your car's bumper sticker. Maybe one day, I'll make my own T-shirt or bumper sticker with this poem - I rather like it, I admit.
Peace
Whether you wish me well or ill
I wish you well
If you give me the finger
I give you two ✌
© Padma Venkatraman
What did I learn from all this? I may be forced to lock my social media, but no one can force me to lock my heart. LOL!
Hoping 2021 will be kinder to the world than 2020 was,
Padma Venkatraman
