Across from you
Earlier this week, I was catching up with an old friend.
Out of the blue, this person began apologizing for something that happened a long time ago, something I’d forgotten about and something I also should have apologized for.
It was a surprising, yet simple part of our conversation – full of goodness and kindness. After those few words, we carried on and the night was sweet.
I know the world seems like a mess…because it is. But I’m beginning to believe the way to make things better is by caring for the people across from us really well, no matter where they come from or what they’ve done.
It starts with those simple moments: getting to know someone who you’ve been ignoring, apologizing to a coworker or family member, writing a letter to someone you love just to let them know how grateful you are for how they make you feel.
Those moments may seem small, but in most cases, they’re actually really challenging. They cause us to look inside ourselves and notice the changes we still need to make. So with each of those small acts, momentum builds. They expand and spread and become the places from which we can see new possibilities. They may lead you to inviting your neighbors for dinner, exploring gatherings and initiatives in your community, pursuing that creative idea that’s been dormant for too long.
No matter what is happening in your world, however grave or maddening, you have the power to spark those small changes.
And any of them can begin on a random Wednesday, in July.