Amaya Gayle Gregory

I grew up in a sleepy little town in Southern Oregon. It was pretty conservative. They had a Sundown Law on the books way past the 60's. I'm not sure why the city fathers bothered with the law, because Grants Pass was a very white town. Guess they didn't want 'strangers' loitering after sundown. I didn't agree with racism or any kind of discrimination. I didn't fit in, and I dearly wanted to. Whenever I heard unkind comments my stomach churned. My grandfather was from the South and I heard words that no one should hear. Listening to hateful words, even when the person the words were directed at wasn't in the room, burned with discomfort. It made me squirm and I was aware that it left an indelible imprint. At a deep cellular level I knew it was wrong, that it hurt me too. As I was growing up you would think that I would have been more kind. Knowing how it hurt didn't stop me from being hurtful to others. Wanting to fit in and knowing I didn't, pushed me to do things against my inner knowing. Guess I was a slow learner, or maybe I should call it a thorough learner. It was a good training ground for the experiment in (S)self awareness that has inspired the last 30 years of my life.

Life inspires me. Sometimes it is messy. Sometimes it is delicious. Sometimes it is painful. I never know which version will meet me as I start a new day. I once saw a picture of two monks in beautiful red and gold clothing riding a rollercoaster. They were perched atop the highest point just about to drop down in the twists and turns. Their arms were in the air and the grins on their faces defied words. They are my role model for how to do life. We aren't in control. We might as well put our arms into the air and ride life for all its worth. When we do that, we find out that life has infinite value.