Hi!
These days it seems that when I think world situations cannot get any worse, something else happens. And, with all that is going on, no being on the planet can escape its impact is some way.
Off-the-charts warmth in the world’s oceans have set the stage for deadly storms, most recently Hurricane Otis, which slammed Acapulco. The U.S. House of Representatives was unable to conduct votes on legislation for 22 days for lack of a House Speaker; a House Speaker was finally chosen, but he is not a defender of democracy. The terrorist group Hamas made a horrific attack on Israel, and now there is full-blown war, with Palestinians caught in the middle. The Lewiston, Maine rampage was the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. this year. The aforementioned are only just some of the mind-boggling and heart-jolting events of this one month alone! How much can one’s mind and heart take?!
When I can pause and look deeper at the chaos and violence in this world, I remember that there is only love, beneath it all, there is only love, for that is what each of us is. The anger and the violence stem from fear, projected onto others. The fear stems from believing that one’s needs will not be met. This applies to every human being—we are more alike than different.
At the bare minimum, we each have the same basic needs for food, water, clothing, and shelter. Then there’s safety, touch, medical care, etc. To truly thrive, each individual requires freedom to pursue happiness, equal treatment, the ability to creatively express themselves—the list goes on and on. The quality of our life is intertwined with our needs being met. This is true for all of us. These world events disrupt us all from pursuing the fulfillment of our needs, be they basic like food, or a higher level like education. These events impact one’s sense of security, peace, and well-being. And, they can easily cut us off from one another.
One thing we can each practice is being kind and compassionate to others; it can be as simple as holding the door open for someone, saying “Thank you,” or shining your smile (your light). It’s a start to getting people and the world back on an even keel, one small act at a time.
I strive to be introspective and conscious about my thoughts and actions, to contribute to the upliftment of this world, to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. Of course, I do this imperfectly.
But as the Jill Jackson-Miller and Sy Miller song states, “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.” Peace begins with me. Kindness begins with me. Love begins with me.
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Karen Drucker speaks and sings at New Thought churches, facilitates women’s retreats, gives keynote speeches at mind-body-health conferences, and produces her own inspirational songs. Her music is used for people going through cancer treatment and by workshop leaders and authors. I had the delight of catching Karen live in concert this past Saturday night at Centers for Spiritual Living—Prescott.
Karen grew up in Hollywood and a fun fact is that Carole King became a neighbor of hers and she became the baby-sitter for her two young children. One day she came home from school and Carole’s piano was in her bedroom because she was remodeling her house and needed a place to store it for a few months. That was Karen’s opening to pursuing her dream of being a singer/songwriter.
One of my favorite inspirational songs of Karen's is There is Only Love. It is a reassuring reminder for these times.
Enjoy!
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