Spring! It’s here. The birds are returning to our yard, and I’ve been able to walk the dog and, like her, stop and sniff around as I gaze at the crocuses and daffodils pushing their way through the earth. My body/mind responds to the increase of light and warmth with increased energy and optimism. I read the news and am dismayed by the darkness of current events. I find it necessary to maintain my center and act from wisdom rather than anger, worry, or fear. I feel a bit like Anne Frank, who still believed in the good of people even during the Holocaust. I feel the pain of immigrants who fear deportation, people losing their jobs, cutbacks to the educational and healthcare systems, and the effects of these cutbacks. I recognize the need for compassion and remember the importance of love and kindness. It helps that I’ve been leading a meditation for the Mindfulness Center at UMass Memorial, focusing on compassion, love, and kindness that meets every Wednesday night. There’s power in sitting as part of a group. Even without words or discussion of ideology, there is a sense of warmth and caring that is open-hearted and inspirational. It’s part of an online global community. It’s free, and you can join me if you like:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/CgmTyIumRHayPIs7dFUVIg#/registration
Being in the latter part of my life has given time a new meaning, and I want to fill it in a way that aligns my values and dreams with my actions. I am semi-retired and have more time, so I decided to take a more active part in my community, enlarge my circle of acquaintances, and have some influence. I volunteered to be on the advisory board for the City Council. It’s easy to criticize others, but I’ve decided to put my body/mind where my heart lies and go beyond my comfort zone to meet a more diverse set of people. I’m excited. I will be going out into different venues to get people interested in the city and its services and interviewing people for various positions on boards in the community. I was asked what I’d look for in my recommendations and I suggested an open mind…and a commitment to show up and listen to different viewpoints without rushing to judge and carefully evaluate action steps. I considered adding freedom from bias but I realize that we all have biases, including me. I don’t find it easy to listen to a person who disagrees with my views but I am committed to being open and respectful so I take a breath, bring awareness to my reactivity, and try to find an area of commonality that we can both agree upon. I’ll have to let go of the outcome but not hope.
The other day I was talking to a young friend about life choices. He was hoping he could keep everyone in his family happy. I’ve learned through experience that happiness begins with ourselves. I prefer thinking of the ability to live with ease. There are limits to what is possible. I found myself saying, “Life is messy,” and he reminded me I’ve said this before. The Rolling Stones sing, “You can’t always get what you want.” I want everyone to feel good, be healthy, and be at peace. I don’t want there to be war, poverty, greed, or delusion. I don’t like experiencing pain or observing how people can harm each other. I see people I love suffering, and I am limited in what I can do to make things better for them. I can bear witness, be empathetic, and stay centered. That’s a lot.
I recently attended Soul on Fire, a documentary about Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor and great humanitarian. “Wiesel lived with despair and guilt after surviving the Holocaust. He could not forget the suffering he observed in the camps or his inability to save his father from beatings and death after they walked together and survived the death march from Auschwitz to the Buchenwald concentration camp. Wiesel’s suffering opened his heart and motivated him to bear witness and document the suffering he observed in the hope that it would never be forgotten or happen again. In 1985, Ronald Reagan awarded him the Congressional Gold Medal for his humanitarian work. During the ceremony, Wiesel respectfully and unsuccessfully attempted to persuade Reagan, who was soon to be visiting Kohl, the chancellor of Germany, and asked him to cancel their visit to Bitburg, a military cemetery. Wiesel and the families of Holocaust survivors felt visiting the military cemetery was disrespectful since 49 SS men, the Nazi elite, were buried there along with the other soldiers. Newsmen later asked Wiesel if he thought he could change the president’s mind. Wiesel said no, but he was taught to speak truth to power. He stayed true to his principles, to never be silent if he perceived injustice was being done. He is also quoted as saying "There are victories of the soul and spirit. Sometimes, even if you lose, you win."
What principles do you hold to be true? How are you living them?
Thursday, April 6, 2025 from 11 AM-12 PM, EDT is our next meeting