Into the Wilderness: story 30
When I started this blog four years ago, I was writing mostly to recover from Catina’s assault, an event that led to a healing journey across multiple states and therapeutic centers; numerous psychometric and psychological assessments; and even a lawsuit. It was unfamiliar typography- craggy and airless, hard to get to and through- but a lunar glow of hope and resilience, nonetheless.
Our family changed and healed- together. One lesson: when one family member experiences trauma, all do. We all were imprinted by the trauma, even at the molecular level- Science only now is understanding trauma’s mark on our genetics. We all had to do the work- what Catina and I called “walking the moon.”
I wrote torrents of words. And then stalled. Where would this story go? I now know that this walk never ends. It’s a non-stop marathon with a finish line that inches forward with every step taken toward it.
Walking the Moon is about more than trauma treatment and recovery, though there’s still much to say on that topic. No official high school curricula I know teaches recovery and resilience. The school of life is our tutor-in-chief. We muddle through. We survive. And if we’re lucky, we thrive.
But we can do more. Trauma lessons resonate across many more areas.
A lot of wonderful experts are talking about authentic leadership these days. Few leaders are listening. I almost wrote “none,” but that would miss many remarkable exceptions that have lifted me up over the years.
Business has a crisis on its hands. Profit is more important than people, an unnecessary dichotomy since businesses need humans. As of yet, no economy is being run solely by machines. HR departments are broken, working to protect companies rather than people. In many cases, employees have nowhere to turn for genuine, authentic support. Politics have replaced communications. I’ve been on Zoom meetings when I’ve wondered how everyone can act as if what people are saying makes sense. It’s all double-talk generation, gibberish to make the Jabberwocky proud.
Now, I know exceptions exist, especially in small businesses. But once capitalist principles come into play (and I am a capitalist, so don’t read into that), humanity is a mudslide crumbling a mountain that looked sturdy but never really was.
Gretchen Pisano, CEO of Plink Consulting, always recommends positive assumptions over negative, kindness rather than criticism. But in my experience, I see little of that in action. I’m sure she and her team see many success stories. (Check her out- she’s a genius!)
And so much pretense. We pretend that women are equal in the workplace when studies and statistics tell us differently. I’ve been labeled negatively for qualities men regularly portray. I’ve never heard a man called a “b…” for speaking from knowledge and facts. Moreover, companies are far from real diversity and some are using the minority backlash against DEI as an excuse to retract.
Hiring is now keyword driven, and as a CBS News article reported in June, “ghost” job openings are perfectly acceptable. Unless you’re applying internally, to a verified opening or working with a headhunter- which let’s face it, is for a fairly small, select group of job hunters- the job hunter doesn’t know if they’re applying to a real job.
Salaries are stagnant as well, unless you’re in the c-suite. Those lucky fellas (because most are men) saw their salary differential from the average worker rise from 38ish% in the 1970s to 380+% now (Yes, I have a source. DM if you must have it.)
Lastly, theory has replaced real working knowledge and practical application. Shocking to some: A PowerPoint is not product. A strategy is only an idea until it is implemented. If you’re looking at PPTs rather than real outcomes, beware: you risk falling into a false value chain which prizes so called thinkers over doers. I once had HR tell me that a manager doesn’t need to understand the subject matter or discipline they are overseeing. I’ve seen that in action; it doesn’t work. There are no managerial quality control processes, no sign off procedures. And no mentoring or job development- because the employee has nothing to learn from their manager.
It’s as if we are in overtime in a boxing match in which no bell is rung to stop the winner from beating the opponent bloody. Right now, corporations are winning.
Well, I’m ringing the bell. It’s time to support the American worker. Corporate America needs to Walk the Moon. It needs to get real, dig deep and heal. It needs to treat its employees as the valuable assets they are. It needs to advocate for humanity instead of profit. It needs to protect and appreciate rather than lie and cover up. I have a lot to say on these subjects. And that’s where I’ll be space walking next.
Walk the Moon 