A Shout-Out to My Tribe
Last month I had the opportunity to read my first published piece of writing in front of a live audience. It was beyond super fun. Bright lights, good laughs & sharing the stage with other stupendously creative folks. I even received a bouquet of flowers.
On the way home, when I thought about how ridiculously awesome the evening was, one thing stood out as bringing it all together for me: my tribe showed up.
I had friends, family, co-writers & co-workers all show up either in person or by text or voice mail to wish me well & celebrate the accomplishment. The night simply wouldn’t have been as special if my tribe hadn’t been there to share it with me.
Being a member of a tribe is not as simple as being someone’s friend. I’m lucky to have 5 or 6 individuals in my life whom I call friend. My tribe is probably 3 dozen folks deep & sometimes requires more effort, more attention. My tribe is often more intimately involved in my day-to-day activity than my family.
Some days, we don’t like members of our tribe. But at the end of the day, we’re connected to our tribe through a common goal or ethical compass or shared experience, & that tie is what binds us through conflict.
I stand in covenant with several tribes: my family, blood & chosen; the tribe of my childhood & home place; my spiritual community; my veterinary medicine peeps; & of course, my writing colleagues.
Tribes overlap, evolve, endure, raise one another up from the ashes of failure & grief, celebrate & challenge. Members come & go, & at times, when the common goal has been accomplished, the task is complete or the binding element ceases to exist, the tribe dissolves.
Ultimately, tribes remind us that like it or not–& some days I really don’t like it—human beings on this planet are inter-connected. We depend on one another to accomplish, build, dream, strategize, create & strive. Hell, some days, I depend on my tribe just to survive.
I’m blessed. My tribe shows up, & they do a particularly good job at reminding me not to take myself too seriously. My tribe rocks. Even when they’re a pain in my ass.
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Anita: It was so wonderful to see you read your piece in front of the audience. Your timing was beautiful. We all laughed at the appropriate spots in the story, you paused and looked like a pro the entire time. Bravo! I’m in your tribe woman! Can’t wait for the next reading!
Thanks, Leslie. And thanks for being at the reading. I love walking this journey of Writer with you. And the next reading will be your release party! Woo hoo!
Thanks for these thoughtful comments, Anita and for posting those pics. (Love the one of you and me). I’m honored to be a member of your tribe. Like you, I need my tribe beyond family and in addition to friends; a place where we speak in the same language and share similar values and know one another in a deeper place.
Keep on posting, please. Love to read what you have to say.
Yes! Language shared. Absolutely true! And maybe even a common sense of humor? Let’s be honest, sometimes we share jokes in a writing group that only other goobers will understand. A sense of humor tied to circumstance & shared experience. It was an honor sharing the stage with you, JR. Thanks for being in my tribe.
Anita, members of your tribe have your back regardless. Congratulations on this wonderful accomplishment — this member of your tribe, is truly proud! Now send me that piece to read, please!
And members of my tribe are relentless, too! 🙂 We’ve shared a tribe for so many years. Thanks for having my back. Now be patient.
So very happy for you, Anita. Your journey in all its twists and turns reminds me of what a privilege it is to be with you in some capacity along the way. To tribes and to friendship. Love you, my friend.
Ah, my spiritual tribe & the tribe of seminary. Absolutely wouldn’t be where I am today without making that part of the journey. Was it truly 20 years ago? I’ll never forget hanging at the local 24-hour joint (Denny’s?) debating so many facets of theology & social justice. A toast back at ya!
As we promised, Q and I were thinking of you as we drove to the airport – sending you warm thoughts and wishing we were there to hear you read and to hug you afterwards. But we were there spiritually – and I know you felt it.
Yea! For Tribes!
How would any of us survive without them!
When I wrote this post, I tried to think of someone I knew, or even someone in society that survives outside the connections of Tribe & honestly, the only individuals I thought of were people who have come to tragic ends. Can you think of anyone? Even as a MAJOR introvert, I’ve learned the blessing of connection with the people around me on a daily basis. And yes, I definitely felt you & Q there with me at the reading. Thanks for the great vibes!
I loved this post, Anita. I’ve been thinking a lot about tribes lately, the ones we’re born into, the ones we find or which find us. You’ve put into words how I feel about the whole tribal pull. We are truly blessed when connected to those who support us and need our support even when the pain in our butts is excruciating. I’m happy to be in that mix and I was really happy to be there to hear you speak the words you wrote.
Thanks, Betsy! One thing that intrigues me is how & why we choose our tribes & how those choices evolve over a lifetime. These days when I’m welcomed into a tribe, I offer a level of loyalty & attention that I’m not sure I could offer 20 years ago. And these days, I tend to choose tribes that aren’t afraid to challenge me & rattle my world a little, which definitely didn’t happen 20 years ago! Thanks for sharing this journey with me!
All i can say is that you,re awesome!
Ju-ju! One of my oldest tribe members! And the individual who taught me that being a member of a tribe means having fun with one another & of course, finding trouble. Love you right back.