On Saturday, I led an afternoon retreat. Sixteen people gathered to meditate, reflect, and heal. The sharing was deep: losing loved ones, caregiving to parents and kids, feeling not enough, making career shifts, and reconnecting to emotions.
After three hours, the group energy was calm, clear, and loving. Everyone had small yet important steps forward. I came home feeling inspired and hopeful.
Yesterday, friends from Chicago shared stories about ICE agents doing horrific things. Pulling people from cars, beating them senseless, pointing guns at the crowd, targeting schools and traumatizing children. The horror and injustice is more than a heart can take, yet it’s happening all over our country.
Today, in the Oshkosh prison mindfulness circle, we had a grief ceremony. Each person spoke about people they love who have died—deaths happening while they were behind bars, unable to mourn. Some residents shed tears for the first time, held by the group. It was hard and beautiful and deeply connecting.
We live in strange times, where we must hold two things at once in our heart: People are good and loving AND some people do heinous things.
With so little we can control in our harsh, chaotic, unjust government, we’re left with how we interact with people in our daily lives.
How can we help people be their best selves?
How can we listen and love?
How can we wisely use our voice for people who are voiceless?
Every interaction matters. You may be the light that lifts someone up; the person who makes a small yet measurable difference.
Be a wise, kind light in this complex world.