People always talk about how the current generation of the
country will be the end of the world as we know it, but I think for the fist
time in a long time, people are wrong.
Though, maybe it’s not the first time in a long time? It
seems we’ve always been building up to how we are today, which means people
have been getting increasingly better as the years go on. Each generation has
been inching toward acknowledging a need for shared rights between all people.
If anything, I think this country (and the world, at large) is
getting kinder—or at the very least, conscious. It seems we are at least aware
of the turmoil that surrounds us, and the impact our choices have on each other
and our planet. The increase in human rights we’ve seen over the past one
hundred years is proof, alone, that we are starting to become less egotistical:
that we’re becoming more concerned with the happiness of our fellow human being
than our own power.
The strides we’ve taken and continue to take for civil
rights, women’s rights and gay rights are all very encouraging to me. These
strides have taken a total reconstruction of the common thought and a hell of a
lot of courage. The lawmakers and citizens who have fought for them needed to
put themselves and their reputation as, “well-thought-of individuals”, on the
line in order to do what was right. That, my friends, is what I like to call:
gutsy kindness. Can’t get enough of that stuff!
Wonderfully enough, it doesn’t stop with these particular human
rights. There are kindness ambassadors springing up everywhere for many
different causes! I am very encouraged by the different sorts of activism I’ve
noticed taking off around the country and beyond. From veganism and
vegetarianism, to fighting against animal cruelty, to environmental groups, to
veteran support, to serving the poor and homeless…The list goes on and on. Needless-to-say:
I am constantly inspired and in awe of the giving hearts of my fellow people.
Even in cases such as Kony 2012, which, from what I
understand, turned out to be a bit of a sham, I can say I am proud of the fact
that so many people felt so inspired to speak out for their sisters and
brothers in different countries who are suffering. I feel that people are
starting to understand the most important piece of the puzzle in our human
experience: That we are all only mirrors of each other and that only love is
real. When you hurt, I hurt, and vice versa. This makes me believe the levels
of empathy and perspective taking are increasing, as well, which, are key
factors to people dolling out kindness with such generosity.
So call me a cockeyed optimist! Call me a fool. Just don’t
call me Sally. I’m kidding. Call me Sally the most. But honestly, as much it
can be easy to get discouraged by certain experiences in life, when I think of
all the good and all the beauty there is in the world, it brings me to tears and
propels me to move forward with an open heart. We are so lucky to live in a
time when there is so much love, generosity and benevolence everywhere we look!
Maybe I’m a hippie, or maybe I’m just aware. You can decide
what you think of me, if you care to judge. But I think it’s pretty inarguable
that for a country that began with bringing a group of people here by force and
enslaving them, while running a simultaneous genocide of the native people of
this land, and basically keeping any person who wasn’t a white male away from any
real rights, we have come a LONG way. I am proud. Go America! Go World! I can
say from experience, it’s a lot less exhausting and far more inspiring to be
aware of and grateful for all the good in the world. It makes one feel alive!
I appreciate the kindness today and am excited to see what
tomorrow brings!
Sending you love,
Lo
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