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“I know that I get scared sometimes, but all I need is here.”
I Believe, Carrie Newcomer, song lyrics

“Courage doesn’t always shout, but whispers and reminds.”
A Simple Change of Heart, Carrie Newcomer, song lyrics

I want to tell you a story: A long time ago, there was a young girl who looked out at the world, not with wonder or joy, as you might imagine. But with fear. She heard adults yelling and saw so much violence and hate that her hands began to tremble. When she tried to eat, her head shook slightly as she worked to bring the fork or spoon up toward her mouth. It was as though the words and actions that reverberated among the adults had moved into her small body, like earthquake tremors running through her veins.

What happened to her? That part of the story is the good news. She grew up. She found peace. And she became a writer. She carries within the depth of her soul the saying, “Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become your character. Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.” She understands the need for learning how to live together in harmony.

Children are counting on us.

At a recent event in Indianapolis, Jill Bolte Taylor (author, My Stroke of Insight), Sandy Sasso (Rabbi), and Carrie Newcomer (folk singer), shared their stories. They joined the stage in an effort to build community and embark on a public discourse regarding the human spirit. They asked, “What do we want our world to be?” and “How do we love the stranger, not just our neighbor?” and “If not now, when?” They spoke of embracing cultural, religious, political, gender, ethnic, and racial differences. How do we do so? We can start by telling our stories. We can listen to the stories of others. We can recognize the collective whole.

As Taylor emphasized, “You have to imagine the world you want and know the leaders who will bring that forward.” Using both the intellect and the heart, we must create a vision of harmony. “Thank goodness we’re not all the same,” exclaimed Rabbi Sasso. Yet, we also share similarities. Our commonality is the human heart.

What story will we tell our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren?

In joy and gratitude,

Diana