This pic popped up on my “memories” and after, going 🥹 I remembered how at that moment I felt very synced up, very connected to this little person.
Years later, when Jack and I were having another high vibes moment I asked him, “What do you think buddy, do you think we’ll always be friends?” He said, “I don’t know mom. I mean, years from now I will have a totally different brain. I don’t know if my brain will want to be friends with your brain.”
His funny and fair response is a good reminder; we aren’t entitled to connections just because we’ve always had them. To feel connected we have to continue to nurture our relationships, to pay attention to them and be willing to change for them.
This includes our connections with our neighbors, coworkers and acquaintances. And it needs to extend to passersby, strangers and the “other” beyond our little bubbles.
We live in a world that is constantly encouraging us to be careless, to buy more and care less. “Self care” is a catch phrase for “buy this product/service” and “sending love and light” just means “Don’t worry, you can’t fix it anyway! Just buy this/watch this/take this!”
But, doing nothing is not doing something; it’s doing nothing. Don’t be fooled into believing you don't have power, so don't bother. We do, and we should. Because none of us are free until all of us are free.
Write your letters, run for something, volunteer, read, educate yourself, try to be an influence for good. Your empathy is a great tool and an even better guide. Nurture and grow your empathy and fiercely protect it against a system that wants you to give up and give in. Let it be the dirt under your nails, the reason you thump your chest and the reason you continue to cultivate connections with friends, neighbors, coworkers, acquaintances, and passersby.
May your brains continue to be friends with other brains. 🧠
Love you! ❤️
Empower | Educate | Encourage