My river of thoughts float
peacefully, silently, calmly
reflecting the blue sky, fluffy clouds, stoic trees
gently rocking against my mind’s banks.
My river of thoughts play
bubble, sing, splash
tumbling over stones, sticks, and logs
tickling the banks of my mind.
My river of thoughts rage
churning, eroding, destroying
throwing rocks, upending trees, awash in mud
lashing at the banks of my mind.
My river of thoughts slow
flowing, softening, lapping
finding a new rhythm, dropping pebbles, clearing
gently rocking against the banks of my mind.
During times of crisis, we may need to rage, to break down that which is wrong within and without so that new ways can emerge. It can feel, especially as leaders, overwhelming, but like the river, it will calm. If we do the internal and external work, the calm will not be false and fleeting, but an emerging of new rhythms, new ideas, and better systems.