Just in case you can't
see what the sticker says - it proclaims "we are all in this
together." You may or may not feel that way - but I sure do.
We don't all have to agree on everything or even most things. We don't
have to love each other or even like each other. But I do think we've got
to acknowledge that there's only one earth - so for the time being - yeah, we
really are all in this together.
If I've shared the
following before - please pardon the repetition. More and more, I've got
a mind that remembers what it wants to remember, yet forgets what I don't want
it to. On the first day of business school, during the very first
lecture, the Professor declared "it's not about me and it's not about
you. It's about us, and not just some us, but all of us."
Hmm... He wanted the class to understand that it wasn't important who
graduated with the highest GPA or went onto the most prestigious job - it was
about making sure that we all learned from each other, supported one and other,
and that we all crossed the finish line together.
Reminds me of that great
scene in An Officer And A Gentleman when Mayo forfeits the obstacle course
record - and personal glory - to go back and help his classmate Seeger over the
wall: https://youtu.be/Hc-VglI8KLQ
(Make sure to watch
through the first 30 seconds of ads) I still get goosebumps every time I see it
or even think about it. The scene is the very essence of what it means to
all be in this together. Sure, I am banging away at this theme pretty
hard, but I think it's important and hey, we do have Support Group tomorrow
night and what could be a greater expression of all in this together than
Support Group.
I had a phone call today
from a Bandster that I hadn't seen or heard from in 13 years! You read
that right, 2009 was the last time that we had spoken. So much has
happened since then, to both of us, and to the world at large. That said,
this individual knew - from waaaaay back when - that they could always come
home, that they could always call, and that anytime for anything it would always
be about us.
I also had a FaceTime
with a Sleevester who was struggling a bit. Current events really had
them down - war, shootings, gas prices - things that I imagine are upsetting
many of us - but what was really unsettling to them was that they felt there is
a breakdown in community, civility, and respect - especially between those who
disagree. They were despondent about the loss of a collective, all
encompassing "US" that often seems to have been replaced by
"them" versus "us" and by a "me" versus
"you." Seemingly gone - or at least relegated to a lower
priority - is a sense of collective good, a commonality of purpose, a
willingness to help someone else get over that wall, to get them - together
with us - across the finish line.
Of course, it doesn't
have to be that way. As Viktor Frankl so wisely taught: "Between
stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose
our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” We must
never forget our freedom to choose - to choose us over them and we over
me. Our freedom to ensure that everyone gets over the wall and across the
finish line.
Wishing us all safe
space, an abundance of grace, and a sense of belonging.
Adam
Comments
Post a Comment