Staying in the present is an adage and advice easily and often given, but hard for most to execute. It is also the theme for the latest book by bilingual coach, writer/editor and consultant Linda González,. In “Rest Like a Giant Tree: Be Happy in the Midst of So Much” (RLGT) González, reveals as much as she inspires, making the adage come to life in clear, concise and relatable terms through her lived experiences.
In RLGT, she deftly blending self-help and creative nonfiction genres. In other words, RLGT is that wonderful and rare example of an inspirational memoir that reads like fiction. Reflecting on her personal challenges and life lessons learned, the book is made up of 36 essays divided into six section that explore the importance of staying in the present moment amid contemporary societal traumas, such as mass deportations and genocide, that we are daily bombarded with. This collection offers encouragement that, in the midst of so much, we can integrate all we are.
González, work focus on racial justice and systemic change through collaborative, interactive processes that address dynamics of power, intersectionality, and different work approaches. Below is an interview with González, about this her fourth book, its message and application.
PF: Why the title and the metaphor of a giant tree? And why do we need to rest- individually and collectively?
LG: I live my life buoyed by the quote by Buddha: “Praise and blame, gain and loss, pleasure and sorrow come and go like the wind. To be happy, rest like a giant tree in the midst of them all.” The essays braid together healing, justice, and joy-reminding us that even amid struggle, we can root ourselves in hope and resistance. Because the work of liberation is life-long, rest is crucial to keep us and our communities sustained, safe, and happy.
PF: How does your background as a Latinx gendered woman and daughter of immigrants inform how you navigate inequities and social injustice… maybe differently or more so than men and people who are not of color?
LG: My first language was Spanish, something I did not realize until my mid-twenties. I was immersed in a mono-lingual world outside my home that did not value the effort of my parents to fit into the dominant culture, an impossible aspiration. Writing my first book, a memoir, helped me to understand them as people, to see their strengths and their challenges. Writing unearthed my generational trauma and the injustices they thought I wouldn’t have as a US born, formally educated daughter. While they did not have lower expectations of me as a female, they also did not believe that speaking out against inequities at my jobs would be punished because of race, class, and gender power dynamics. My writing and my equity work is to lessen the burden of others who are with me on the path of liberation and joy.
PF: How can BIPOCs (Black Indigenous People of Color) benefit from the wisdom of RLGT, especially given the rise of racism in the politics and policies?
LG: Too often we feel our despair and loss alone, thinking we are the only one or we are not strong enough. While RLGT focuses on my experiences of what Latinas suffer under white supremacy (and capitalist) patriarchy, my stories counter the blame and sorrow narrative that all BIPOC work to dismantle.
PF: RLGT seems as personal as your other memoirs, but in a different way. I think it has something to do with the inclusion of your faith in Buddhism and how you apply that not only to your personal life, but also to your work as a biz and life coach. Would you agree with that?
LG: Our spirit holds tenderness and compassion that cannot be destroyed. Buddhism, along with my Meso-American indigenous practices, remind me that separation is a delusion. We are interconnected and therefore hate of others is hate of ourselves. My spiritual practices remind me to not use the tools of the oppressor, especially “divide and conquer” and “better than” paradigms. They remind me to love my generous heart and trust my experience. The essays go deep into the painful places and events that could have broken my spirit; instead they served as openings to find my wisdom and love.
PF: Did you work on this before, during or after any of your other books? Do you usually write in a linear way?
LG: Neither my life nor my writing is linear. I was working in different ways on all my books even as I focused on the one I was moving toward publishing. I often talk about having a #bouquetlife. My books are like a garden, and they were published as they matured and bloomed. Some of the essays in RLGT were written and published before my first book emerged. I was not thinking then about essay collections, which my last two books were. I was tending to my craft and writing about experiences that stayed with me, seeking redemption and a measure of peace.
“Rest Like a Giant Tree” and all books by Linda González, is available through her website at lindagonzalez.net/writing as well as at lulu.com. You can also order a copy through your local independent bookstore.
