We have lots of stuff to figure out together…

So…because it appears that things are not going to get easier, this means that we have to get stronger. We have to pull together more. We have to sit face to face and remember who we are. We have to push aside the urge to start pointing fingers and dividing into groups. We need to all sit at the same table and look each other in the eye.

And we have to get stronger. We have to build the resilience it takes to be able to keep hearing about these episodes and still be able to stand up and show up where we are needed. That doesn’t mean we are ignoring it…in fact, it means the opposite. When we panic and stay paralyzed in fear, we do nothing except sit right where we are and talk about it. What we REALLY need to do is get off our tushies, put on our shoes and head out the door to the nearest human and look them in the eye and remember that we are one big family.

Please don’t let this make you retreat further into your house. Please don’t vow to stop believing in the human race. Almost everyone is a very good person. The worst thing that could happen is for all of the good people to retreat to the corners of their own homes and stop gathering around the table and looking each other in the eye.

Please plan a potluck. Or go to the coffee shop. Invite a few friends over. Go to the book store. LOOK PEOPLE IN THE EYE and make sure they know that you believe in them. Connection is the cure to this madness. Please do not disconnect, please do not numb out, please do not go to sleep, please do not start spinning in panic and having yucky online discourse. Go find someone and look them in the eye.

I refuse to let this madness destroy me…to destroy us. I am going to plan another gathering RIGHT NOW. I hope you will too.

I love you, human family. Now is the time for us to be together, not separate.

melody ross