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EVERY ONE
Tuesday Dec. 15, 2015
Giving and getting so easily misses the mark. We easily respond to cheery ads, decorated stores, mall-buzzed – getting just the right toys, delivering the best joys to everyone in our life.
So, define everyone.
On margins, people slip away. At edges, some people slip over the edge. In this dumbstruck city of job losses, consolidation and right-sizing leaving too many out of work, down on their luck, when too many compete for too few opportunities, not everyone is resilient, or recovering nicely.
This month, cheer and joy could be our personal connections mantra, not the jangle of merchant’s cash registers ringing.
Something is happening with us, to us and all around us. Not everyone has fuel, or cash, in reserve to get through, to get by. We all know someone in these circumstances. Many of us know many who are struggling hardest of all to put brave smiles on untenable situations.
Reaching out. Spreading, perhaps gaining, some joy should be done when they need it most, not when we need it most or have the most available time. Do we spend as much, or any, time reaching out to people we know?
Do we stay connected to friends, family, colleagues?
Old friends?
And how did we drift out of touch?
If everybody called someone. If everybody called two friends …
And so on. You get the picture.
For strangers on street corners, a smile or word goes a very long way. Smile. Speak. Most people in need really need your hand, or your dollar.
They also need to be seen, be heard and be cared about.
We all need those.
All year.
Mark Kolke
written / published from Calgary, AB
morning walk: -11C/12F, clear and moonless, sunny and snow day ahead; I chanced a jog to Gusta’s delight … knees and ankles were steady and painless, fresh air in early morning silence is matched only by refreshing coffee at my writing table – a great start to today. Better than most …
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