My hope emerges from those places of struggle where I witness individuals positively transforming their lives and the world around them. Educating is a vocation rooted in hopefulness. As teachers we believe that learning is possible, that nothing can keep an open mind from seeking after knowledge and finding a way to know.
Bell HooksNone of us, irrespective of our sexual preference and/or practice, imagine that we can have an intimate relationship with a partner and always have seamless harmony. Indeed, most of us assume that once the โhoneymoonโ period is over differences will emerge and conflicts will happen. Positively, we also assume that we will be โsafeโ in those moments; that even if voices are raised and emotions expressed are intense, there will not be and should not be any abuse or any reason to be unsafe, and that the will to connect and communicate will prevail.
Bell HooksKnowing how to be solitary is central to the art of loving. When we can be alone, we can be with others without using them as a means of escape.
Bell HooksAll too often we think of community in terms of being with folks like ourselves: the same class, same race, same ethnicity, same social standing and the like..I think we need to be wary: we need to work against the danger of evoking something that we donโt challenge ourselves to actually practice.
Bell Hooks