Many Hands Make Light Work

These days, our hearts and minds can feel spread thin. In the last week alone we’ve witnessed crisis after crisis—sometimes it feels like there simply isn’t the time, energy, resource, or bandwidth for one person to make this a better world—the good news is you are not alone in this fight.

There is undoubtedly a collective awakening and activation of the people—on a global scale—the likes of which we have never quite seen before. We see it in downtown Bangkok as the streets fill with the hope of a reformed monarchy. We see it in Lagos as civilians protest the corruption, violence, and abuse of power demonstrated by SARS. We’ve seen it in Hong Kong, The Philippines, Eastern, and Western Europe, South America, and of course right here in the US.

In speaking of these moments of awakening and resistance, we can first understand and acknowledge the tragic displays of violence, power, social manipulation, and subjugation that result in the loss of life, liberty, and justice. While there are intricacies and nuances to each resistance, the common thread is clear. You are not required to be an expert in each political climate or resistance to acknowledge the collective struggle for liberation—or to actively spread awareness across borders.

These are moments of immense loss and we should—as empathic beings—feel them fully. But I am hopeful that we can also recognize the value and significance of these moments and honor those who have sacrificed their life and liberty for the sake of progress. We can honor them by continuing the fight for justice and by spreading the ideologies that dissolve lines and champion love.

It can feel like a lot to live with—it is. But as we look to take care of ourselves, we can't afford to turn a blind eye to that same aspiration for wellness in others. Just know that you don't have to do all the lifting yourself—when you lend your strength and love to others, the collective burden will lighten. Many hands do make light work. We all know this won’t be light—but we can make it lighter for each other.