Volume 3: Rippling Out….

I am a mother. Because of this beautiful privilege, I do not merely care about what happens in my lifetime, but I think deeply about the world my kids and beyond will inherit. Please don’t get me wrong; I am not accusing non-parents of selfishness. I am merely saying that I deeply care about the fate of this planet for generations to come. What almost all political leaders fail to see is that Nature is wildly more powerful than we could ever dream of. She offers unwavering generosity for us and scoffs at our geographic and political boundaries. She knows, without any doubt, that we are all connected. What happens in other parts of the world (polluted water, toxic air, and an overwhelming amount of microplastics in our bodies) also happens wherever we are. The effects do not respect political boundaries, thank you globalization.

I’ll never forget being a part of Hands Across America when I was young. We drove to a neighborhood, unlike mine, in Philadelphia. We mingled with so many strangers, all there for one reason: to connect the entire country all at once to stand up for hunger. I felt the power of that beautiful moment of connection, strength, and unity as we linked hands for an extended period and sang together. There was joy, even exuberance. There were countless hugs with utter strangers. There was hope.

My how far we’ve come from this age-old survival instinct to come together. We couldn’t be farther from that these days. Ironically, we are the most “connected” civilization ever, with our mini-computers ever present in our pockets. And yet, we are the most disconnected, hyper-individualized, and anxious people ever. Now is the time to break this cycle. We need each other, whether we admit it or not. It’s essential to come together as a community again. Bring back Live Aid and Hands Across America. It’s time to reconnect and rebuild our community and ties to one another. Despite the countless messages of “othering” people not like us, I’m here to tell you we are ALL the same. After extensive travel around the world and experiencing firsthand many different cultures and customs, we all need clean air, clean water, and clean food. We all seek love, shelter, a better life for our kids, and to be seen and respected. It’s time for collective action to speak our truth in community.

Here’s what is important to know: hyperindividualism is not sustainable. There is power in numbers; there is power in a collective voice; there is power in speaking for the voiceless. There is power in community. Please take one step to reach out and nurture your community. Do you know your neighbors? Do you know the name of the cashier at the place you most frequent? Slow down and wave someone in front of you with a smile as you’re driving. Remember, when we listen to our hearts, not our elected leaders, we are all the same. Smile from your heart at someone (or many) today. Notice how you both feel after that interaction. What you may not see is how that act of kindness will ripple out, just like drops of water on a pond.

Collective action doesn’t need to be big; start in small ways to bring a different world into being. I envision a world where people are connected, choose to help one another, and, most importantly, thrive, not just barely survive. It starts with each one of us and can be so simple. 

I look forward to hearing about what ripples you make…