Despite being born in a coastal state our little grandson found the sound of surf hitting the shore line terrifying. We spend months trying to coax him out of the car to walk across the parking lot and see the sea from afar, all to no avail. But eventually, as luck would have it, he held our hands and braved the roaring din to stand along side of us, feet in the sand, hesitant and uncertain, but there. I too have felt overwhelmed causing much self-doubt and uncertainty, even fear, not emotions I had much need for until we moved away from just about everything that made me me. But watching our little guy finally get up the guts to yell back at the formidable Pacific I thought, he’s on to something here. Time to land in this here and now and let go of fears. Time to yell back too.
Category Archives: Life
Reach Down. Lift Up. Never Forget.
I am reblogging a post I wrote years ago because on this historic day my sentiments remain the same and I believe it’s worth a second read. While it is true America is currently governed by a petty and vindictive man, who grants pardons to murderers and sends condolences to acolytes while chasing dissenting voices into silence, who has given power to those who are altering what our forefathers held dear, they do not represent the core of Americans. Our America is peopled with those caring for the young and the elderly, who work tirelessly to make something out of nothing, who allow those around them to live their lives as they wish, and who not only bow their heads for those who are trodden upon but do what they can to aid them. 24 years ago we witnessed the strength of our America, not in those who held political power, but in the citizens who responded on 9/11 with their hearts and lives. We remember the brave and selfless today by living as they did, reaching down and lifting up.
We are doing everything
“We can never say, ‘I promise it’s not going to happen at your school,’” Dr. Gurwitch, a clinical psychologist who specializes in the impact of trauma and violence on children, said. “We can say, ‘We are doing everything we know how to do to keep you safe.’” (Mervosh, New York Times)
Everything? Really? Who are the ‘we’? Doing what exactly? Safe how?
