Spread Light

In Times Like These We Need to Spread Light

This has been a challenging week for me. Hearing of still one more horrific school killing amidst all of the negative news in politics made me feel like I was living inside a dystopian novel.

I cried when I saw the faces of the young people who died in the school shooting in Florida this week. And I cry for the brokenness and meanness and stupidity and greed I see being played out over and over again in our nation’s capital. I cry for all who suffer, for the world my grandchildren live in that I could never have imagined as a child. And I cry because I am living in a country where kids have drills in school to prepare for horrific acts like the shooting that occurred in Florida this week. I cry because the mass shootings are happening so frequently that I am becoming a little numbed to it all.

This is the world we live in—where politicians lie and pretend to care about the country they govern, where stories of misdeeds of those in power are given the label “fake news,” where the venality of politicians seems to know no bounds, where climate change wreaks havoc, where hatred and racism are being promoted by the president of the United States, where the divide between the haves and the have-nots keeps growing, and senseless shootings happen in schools, theaters, shopping malls, and outdoor concerts far too often.

First Let Yourself Feel the Pain

Sometimes it is necessary to cry—to allow yourself to really feel the pain of the things that are happening. Don’t become numb to it. And don’t shut it out. Emotions need to be felt. They do not last forever and they are important messengers.

Please stop venting about it on Facebook and other social media by spreading angry or snarky vitriolic posts. Really, I’m serious about this—because things will only change when enough of us do something positive to create change. Ranting on social media may feel like it’s doing something (and it’s true that social media does spread ideas) but it’s not enough and it is also not a healthy thing to spend too much time there if it keeps you from living and acting in the real world.

Love Heals, Hate and Anger Create More Pain

Resist the urge to blame a single thing for all our ills. We live in a world of complex systems and in complex systems there are always multiple causes. In chaos theory scientists use the term “the butterfly effect” to represent the sensitivity of large systems to a tiny change anywhere in the system that can cascade into a total transformation. The trick is to try many tiny positive changes in multiple areas because it is impossible to predict or even look back and say one specific change caused a particular set of events.

It’s easy to point the finger at single things like mental illness or guns but it’s far more complicated than that. Yes, the proliferation and easy availability of high powered automatic weapons is a problem. And the lack of easily available and helpful mental health services is another problem.But there are other contributing issues to our nation’s problems that are too numerous to name.

We need to speak out and act for gun control AND for better mental health services for families and individuals AND for renewable energy and the environment AND for racial justice AND for immigrants AND for women’s rights… (the list could go on and on).

More importantly we each need to work on healing ourselves and becoming kinder and more compassionate, remembering that many of those who think and vote differently than us are angry, hurting or afraid also. They are not stupid or venal or terrible people. Everyone has reasons for their beliefs and actions. Do not demonize those who think differently than you. Seek instead to understand.

What Can One Person Do?

I’ve never been a social justice activist although I have been an idealist and dreamer my whole life. This past year I’ve begun taking small actions like calling my representatives, emailing, and speaking out about issues that are important to me. I also marched in the January 2017 Women’s March in Minneapolis. It was an inspiring experience for me but not one I’m likely to repeat.

I continue to look for ways to spread light and take tiny actions that spread goodness and kindness.  I’m also speaking out more about what I believe. One of my ways that I try to spread light and speak out is through my photography and writing.

What are your ways to spread light?

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. — Margaret Mead

Everyone is needed

We need social activists but we also need artists, idealists and dreamers. Each person contributes to the whole in their own unique way.

In these overwhelming times it’s important to look around and see all of the good that exists in this world and to practice mindfulness, gratitude, and compassion. Otherwise overwhelm and burn-out set in. Get off of social media and away from movies and television for a period of time each day. Go outside and take in the beauty of nature, talk with your friends and neighbors about things that matter to you, create something, make music, listen to music, move your body, worship, meditate, and pray. And then call your representatives, talk about mental illness, talk about gun control, talk about what matters most to you, and then do one small positive thing.

Spread Light

Know that loving kindness, compassion, and gratitude send ripples of light and love out into the world. Remember the butterfly effect. Be a positive light in the darkness. Act from a source of love, not hate. Examine your heart and unpack your anger so that you understand what unmet needs are underneath the anger. Allow yourself to feel the pain fully; don’t numb out or try to escape it and don’t lash out. Find helpful and supportive friends who can listen and help.

I believe that if we wish to create positive change, we must act from a place of love and compassion towards ourselves as well as towards others.

We are all imperfect human beings seeking to be happy.

May you walk in beauty. May you find comfort in the midst of sorrow. May you spread light.