What is my vision, anyhow?
I did some homework and found out!
I’ve been so inspired by the directives and organizing efforts of the Joyful Menace Society! One ‘assignment’ was to write about the world we want to see and use this dream to develop our personal activist vision and focused mission. While I’ve already chosen advocacy about the intersection of therapy and nonparenthood and realized I hadn’t put specific words down. (Probably because the need was so glaring that the direct action was obvious.)
It’s difficult to describe the world I want to see, because there are so many atrocities stabbing my heart with grief at the moment. If I focus a bit on what inspires my hope for us all, it's this: I want a world where every family and kinship constellation is respected and safe. A world where circumstances do not constrain or deny a choice to have the family/children that someone desires. Where someone’s active choice to not become a parent is respected and seen as normal. Where nobody’s intersectional identities are the reason they are either valued or devalued as a parent or nonparent.
My Vision: A mental health field that is both intellectually curious about and professional respectful of the wide variety of different types of life paths and families, including those without children. No longer will the 1 in 5 adults who don’t have kids be left out of its curriculums, theories, models, and practices. Change is evident at all levels of education and ongoing practice. Therapists without children are part of this evolution as key members of this professional inquiry.
Focused Mission: The mental health field will embrace, research, respect, and advocate for the value and rights of all people without kids.
Have I ever encountered the words “vision statement” at a place of employment without dying inside? No. Have I just created a vision/mission without pain and avoiding vague corporate words? Yes. :-)