Procrastinating as usual. I’m supposed to be writing this blog post but I’m struggling to calm my mind enough to tap into my heart. Instead of writing, I decide it’s the perfect time to wrap all the Christmas gifts and put them under the tree. Then go outside and pull the trash cans back up to the house. The frigid winds whip my hair around my face as I scurry back into the warmth of indoors. Wrapped in my cozy sweater, I sink down onto the couch with a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch and turn on YouTube.
A People interview with Matthew McConaughey titled, “We Have to Do Better For Our Kids” catches my eye. This isn’t the type of thing I would normally click on but I’m drawn to it so I follow my gut and click. He’s a native Texan and he’s talking about the gut-wrenching school shooting in Uvalde. I have a lot of trouble not tapping into the emotion of it, but I listen patiently and hear him out.
Uvalde is his hometown and that of his family so when this tragedy happened, he immediately went to try to be some sort of comfort. He mentioned how none of the parents or survivors wanted to hear, “I’m so sorry.” He noticed that if these words were spoken people would shut down. However, if he acknowledged their child that was lost and said something like, “Tell me about them” or “What was your favorite thing about them” they would light up because what their heart craved was connection and to celebrate the life that was.
This immediately reminded me of the thoughts I shared last month regarding the loss of my brother John and how important it is to have or be a witness to a life lived. To feel like the life was valuable even if short, even if a hot mess. To know the life mattered. To know we matter.
December is always so special to me because of the holiday season. Everywhere you look things glow and sparkle. Beautiful smells and Christmas music fill the air.
What I love most though is how beautiful the energy feels. Even if the entire rest of the year these things are forgotten, during the holidays people seek love, kindness, and connection. They spend time together. They perform random acts of kindness. They forgive hurts and let bygones be bygones because it’s the holiday season after all. They spend time together and rekindle connections that may have been lost. We give gifts and celebrate each other simply because we exist. Love, grace, and joy raise the collective vibe of the planet even if temporary and it’s a lovely thing.
I wish we could figure out how to give the world a more permanent dose of this so that we wouldn’t have to worry about tragedies like those in Uvalde, Ukraine, Iran, or any other area of the world. I always joke that if I had a magic power, it would be to have an invisibility cloak. But I would probably get into too much trouble with one of those. If invisible, I would probably be really nosy and may hurt a lot of “bad” guys.
So, more realistically, if I could have one magic power it would probably be better to be able to open hearts. Can you imagine what this world would be like if everyone had an open heart and was aware of their connection to their fellow humans? Wow. That would be beautiful.
Unfortunately, I don’t have that power. I can’t boil the ocean, I can only take care of what is in my little circle of persuasion. So, this month I would like to focus, even if only a little bit, on love, connection, and contentment. Know that you are worthy of love. You are seen and valued. You and your life matter.
May we all do better. May we all love better. May we all be content with the blessings we have. I look forward to spending the holiday season with you. And so it is.
xo, V.
