Hey there. How’s it
going for you these days? Okay? Maybe not so good? Maybe you’re feeling a little down, a little
depressed over the state of the world, the state of our nation, the state of
your local community, the state of your family, or maybe even the state of your
soul? Maybe you’re kind of having a tough time knowing where you fit anymore,
or knowing how you can make a difference. Maybe you feel totally helpless, and
maybe that stirs up all sorts of other emotions for you—depression, despair, anger,
fear, anxiety, frustration… the list could go on. Maybe you choose not to think
about it, because what’s the point anyway? It’s not like there’s anything we
can do about it, right?
Well, I’ll be the first to admit it, if that helps at all. I’m
having a tough time. Like, a really,
really tough time. Ever since the
election (and if we’re being honest, for many years leading up to it) I have
felt more and more as if the world has no place for someone like me. A dreamer. A peacemaker. A gentle soul who
would rather talk it out over hot chocolate than fight about it on Facebook or
Twitter. I have felt more and more in these past few months that I am an
oddity, and something of a worn-out, semi-useless oddity at that. I suppose the
best way to explain why I’ve been feeling this way lately is by telling a story
from something that happened shortly after Trump’s inauguration.
I was one of millions of women around the world who
participated in the Women’s March on Washington this past January. I, along with
about 50 other women in my town, stumbled sleepily onto a bus in Norwich, CT at
1:30am in order to arrive in Washington D.C. later that morning for the
march. After the march was over, many of
us who had ridden that bus decided we wanted to stay in touch, and maybe even
try and organize. And so I attended the very first organizing group meeting
several weeks later. As part of our
debriefing, we went around the room and talked about what struck us at the
march—what were our take-a-ways? I
answered that what struck me the most was the kindness and generosity people
were extending to one another that day.
The joy in the air. The sense of
hope and possibility. Because for once, we weren’t tearing each other
apart. We were rejoicing in our
solidarity and shared hope for the future.
People were kind to one another. It was glorious and beautiful. I was so
moved by it. And so, I said that if we wanted to be successful, if we truly wanted
to change any hearts and minds (and make no mistake, this is all about changing
about hearts and minds), kindness was going to be key. Kindness, compassion, love, and mutual respect.
That is the only way we are going to get out of the mess we find ourselves in.
That’s what I said. But not a few minutes later did a relatively well-known
political figure in the room say there was no room for kindness anymore. We were going to have to be “a$#holes” if we
were going to get what we wanted, or so this person seemed to think. And to my
dismay, most women in the room seemed to agree. There I was, alone in my naïve
dream of a revolution of kindness and love.
Bubble burst. Holding back the tears until it was time to go home.
I left that night thinking, “where is my place in this
world?” Where is the place for someone like me who thinks that we should be
supporting each other in common goals rather than constantly being suspicious
of one another’s motives? Where is the
place for someone like me who believes we ought to be building each other up
from the ground up, not tearing each other down? In the days since that meeting (I haven’t
gone back to another of those meetings since), I’ve tried, with varying degrees
of success, to move forward towards my dream that with just a tiny bit of
effort, we could make this world a much softer, much kinder place. And yes, I have been called naïve. I have been called idealistic. I have been told my ideas won’t work. But I’m
not going to give up. Not yet.
And so, starting tomorrow—Wednesday, June 28th
2017-- I am launching my newest endeavor. It’s not clever. It’s nothing earth-shattering or
extraordinary. It’s just 100 days of
kindness. That’s all. No more, no less. 100 days of doing something kind and
compassionate for someone else. Because I’m tired of hearing people say that
kindness isn’t enough. Actually, I think
it may just be the one thing left that can save us. If nothing else, maybe it can save me.
Anyway, I’m hopeless when it comes to blogs, and so, for
now, this will all be going on Facebook as well as my ancient Wordpress blog (http://sara-fromthehill.blogspot.com). Frankly, I’m impatient, and I want to start
doing this now rather than waiting the two months it would probably take for me
to figure out how to start a new blog from scratch. Check back each day to hear
about that day’s act of kindness. Leave
comments with your own suggestions, or better yet, try it yourself and leave a
comment telling me how it went. Maybe we could even create an army of
compassionate souls, moving the world with the power of love, mercy and
kindness. Stranger things have happened, I’m sure of it.
Stay tuned for my first act of kindness later today. In the meantime…
Peace and loving-kindness to all,
Sara
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