an open heart, a purple chair, a middle space

a call to action — 2025

a purple chair — Dec. 2024 — © darren harley

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a middle space

what is clear
to you-and-me
is that our culture
is becoming
more divided

—

are you red?
are you blue?

i am purple

—

i hold space
in the middle
where we ALL
can feel seen
and heard

—

we might agree
to disagree
and that’s okay

—

being purple
is a choice
in response
to increasing
polarization

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Between stimulus and response there is a space.
In that space is our power to choose our response.
In our response lies our growth and our freedom.

Viktor Frankl, (1905 – 1997), Austrian psychologist, philosopher…

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i choose growth

even though
i’m not a fan
of maga

i have friends
and blood-relations
who are

—

so-either-we-find
a way to grow
purple wings

—

or start learning
how to say
goodbye

—

i choose growth

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purple wings

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a purple space

i declare
a purple space
in the middle

a space-of-reason
compassion
kindness
humility
and love

—

a space
where friendships
are born
where hearts
are opened

—

a space of change

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a purple space — Jan. 2025 — © darren harley

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a space of change

let us meet
on purple chairs
for a tea

let us widen
our circle
to include
even those
who disagree

—

let us open

—

let us find
a purple-patch
in the middle
between extremes
where we are free
to change our minds
in real time

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a space of change — Jan. 2025 — © darren harley

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a call to action — 2025

• help me build a purple space in the middle

  • where we can bridge
    our divisions
    through courageous
    respectful
    conversations

  • where not everything
    has to be
    politicized

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requisitions

1. send me poetry (& prose) that speaks about a purple space¹ — a middle way

2. send me pics of purple chairs and butterflies

3. send me people — potential collaborators

4. share this post with a friend — or colleague

5. upgrade to paid — if you haven’t already

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a purple space

a space-of-reason
compassion
kindness
humility
and 💜

—

a space of change

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courageous conversations about the human condition

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🗣️ thank you Ava, David, & Janice.

Buy Me a Coffee
or Venmo
🙏🏼

1. dh@opentochange.com