“Make me a channel of your peace… Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness joy.” – St. Francis of Assisi
“Your screen time was up 39% last week.” Just 39%? What a week! The events in the United States made me feel overwhelmed and numb. Like many of you, I became fixated on the news. How will we survive and overcome this? I remember feeling the same way after 9/11, but for different reasons. The external threat has become internal. The insurrection is testing our core, our democracy and our ability to peaceably pursue happiness together. The backdrop of all of that is the devastating impact of the pandemic, now claiming more lives per day than all of the souls lost on 9/11. I need a hug, how about you?
I recognize that many of you, like me, are impacted by the events over the past week and will most likely continue into the weeks to come. Make sure you are taking care of yourself, your loved ones and each other. I need to constantly remind myself of that. We are all being affected by this new stress and grief. It can have a negative impact on how we think, work and relate to others. We need to give ourselves time to decompress and heal. “Breathe.” Soak in the positive goodness as well as the negative news.
In the darkest hour, light becomes the brightest. Ask yourself what you can do today to sow some light. Embrace extra consideration, empathy, truth and kindness. And that for yourself and for others. We will get through this.
Our work matters. YOUR work matters. Let’s do our best to keep bringing unity, peace and happiness to our human family that so desperately needs it.