This Thanksgiving, the band Próxima Parada, who we interviewed on August 14th, 2020 about their trauma-informed and therapy/healing-inspired music on A Better Normal (watch the recording here: https://youtu.be/OLv4F3JQUJM), launched a heartwarming music video with lyrics to accompany their song Kind Reminder.
This turned out to be just the kind reminder I needed to get into the holiday spirit. Given that we work in the field of childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences, we often spend more time dwelling on the dysfunctional aspects of families—all the things that went wrong, all the most traumatizing moments, how legacies of pain get passed down. But we each family, we also inherit strengths, resilience, and a legacy of survival. Sometimes we forget to reflect on just what a miracle it is that our family made it this far, bringing us into the world.
I hope you enjoy this video as a counter-balance to some of the darker themes we usually post about here at ACEs Connection. We hope you can find some time to celebrate something about your family this holiday season. I say this while acknowledging that many of you found our work due to family and childhood struggles. May we honor the darkness and the light both.
My coworker @Rafael Maravilla(PACEs Connection Staff) recently posted this on our staff Slack board made me think of Próxima Parada's song Kind Reminder:
Kind Reminder Lyrics:
How many people had to survive
So you could arrive?
I’m still thinking about your beautiful face
You are amazing
How many stories live in you
From the Middle Ages, from Ancient Times?
How many times did they sacrifice?
How much sweat on the brow?
How many miles?
Please forgive everybody who’s forgotten where they come from
Who’s forgotten who they are
They don’t need your backs and hatred
They need your face
They need your embrace
And a kind reminder
How many people had to die so you could be alive?
When I’m looking at your face
It’s the face of a million and so much more
When you see me passing by
Would you kindly remind me of my ancestor’s feet
All the fields of wheat, all the rows of thirsty seeds?
Please forgive everybody who’s forgotten where they come from
Who’s forgotten who they are
They don’t need your backs and hatred
They need your face
They need your embrace
And a kind reminder
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You can find this song on Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever you listen to music.
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