Brave Enough To Be Bliss

had a decision to make: I could either be scared and have a rough few hours there alone with them or I could choose to think the best of them and face it head on.

They were all upstairs working on the bedrooms and bathrooms, so I decided to go see what I could do to help. I figured if anything bad was going to happen, I might as well face it rather than worry about it and wait for it to happen. They were all busy cleaning and changing sheets when I got up there, and I saw one of them looked like he could use a hand with the sheets, so I offered to help. I then decided to learn a little bit about this unique cleaning crew. I asked how long they’d been in the cleaning business and just made casual conversation. They were very polite and kind, and earned a big tip for doing some extra things I hadn’t even asked of them. Afterward, I thought to myself, really? What are the chances? And then I thought, maybe it’s a story for the book. Because every day we have the choice, even in tense situations, to think of the potential best of other humans or the worst. The fear in our brains will tell us to think the worst and if we don’t stop and consciously choose, we will go into protection mode, which is when some of our worst controlling behaviors come out. Or we can make a conscious decision to allow our hearts to lead with love for our fellow humans. And in my experience, generally loving humans will appear. There are no guarantees, of course, because life…is…hard, but there are times when fear alone is what creates issues where otherwise none may have existed. When we aren’t scared that we won’t have enough, when we are simply grateful for what we do have, and when we choose to share what we can, give love and refrain from judgment, that’s when we are able to live into our humanity instead of giving into our fear. When humans treat other humans humanely, they will automatically feel more human. If we don’t care enough to help those who are hurting, including many who started their lives with everything against them and oftentimes without even the basics needed to survive, why should they care enough about themselves to even try to dig out of that hole they were born into? ` “I have learned that the best way to lift one's self up is to help someone else.” Booker T. Washington

Don’t just hear the words, feel the desperation and hopelessness of this song.

Elvis Presley - In the Ghetto (Official Lyric Video) (youtube.com)

“ People, don't you understand The child needs a helping hand Or he'll grow to be an angry young man someday Take a look at you and me Are we too blind to see? Do we simply turn our heads And look the other way ”

“As we work to create light for others, we naturally light our own way.” Mary Anne Radmacher

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