2017: The Year to care

Ever since I have started this blog, I have posted a theme for the new  year.  Usually, by the day of ephiphany, the theme for the year is clear to me.  This time, it was clear to me in December - this upcoming year is the year to care.  What I have witnessed most this past year is how desparately people, everywhere, are dying to be cared about.  I believe that the issues we see all around us come from a lack of caring.  Not a lack of compassion or love, but a lack of understanding that to care includes seeing what is happening and then taking an action to acknowledge the situation.  

When I think of how I most want to contribute to the world, I am clear that I want to help each person who crosses my path follow their heart's truest desire in serving each other and the world.  I truly believe today, like I did my senior year in college, that if people were loving what they did everyday (at work) that would lead to loving homes and loving families.  Since college, I have learned that if people are authentically serving, using their highest gifts, each day, that we would live in a world where war, diseases, hate, and stress would not rule.  Each of us individually have a piece of the puzzle to a peaceful, healthy, happy world and only when we each come forward and fully express this piece of the puzzle will we get there.  It won't work with one or two pieces, we need every piece of the puzzle to create the beautiful outcome we are hoping for.

In order to do this, each of us has to be able to look upon the current problems of the world, not in a depressed, hopeless, way but instead from the perspective of what do I have to contribute to make any one of these situations a little bit better?  When you look around the world, it is clear that there are many different places to contribute - you could contribue to people having clean water to drink, mental health, animal welfare, supporting children with schools, health breakthroughs, building houses for earthquake victims, creating toiletrie kits for homeless people, providing needed health care, getting involved in a political organization, or anything else you can think of.  In 2017, I urge you to find your cause.  Something much, much, much bigger than you, your family, your community and your corner of the world.  Something where you are simply a helper- you are adding a drop in a bucket.  You don't have to start a new cause (though, you can if you want), just find a way to contribute to causes already started that are helping others.   This part is important - choose one, not 20.  There are millions that can use your support, and you absolutely can help them all over time, but choose the one you want to make your focus and ensure whichever one you choose is 100% aligned with your heart.  In that heart alignment, the one drop you put in the bucket, will be magnified hundreds of times over.

Second, be present for each person you interact with.  While it is wonderful to be helping causes all over the world, the true reason to do that is to clear your heart and make you stronger.  I read a book, Purification of the Heart, by Hamza Yusuf, where he talked about how feelings of guilt, anger, resentment, etc create a hard crust on your heart (hard-hearted) and that only by doing things that increase peace, love, forgiveness can you remove these hard pieces.  The only reason you are doing anything is to become the person you are capable of being.  That thought will keep you very humble.  It is not about what "we" are doing for "them" but about how contributing to this situation is making me a better human being.  With this perspective, you are grateful for each person you have helped, because you received a great gift in the ability to be of service to them.  I read on a church sign yesterday, "the currency of love to a child - your time".  We all need each others time.  We need those that disagree with us the most to hear our point of view and listen in a non-judgmental way.  Instead of asking that from others, be that for others.  In 2017, make yourself the commitment that you will take the time to listen and "see" at least one person each day that crosses your path.  It sounds so easy and what you may find is how often you are floating through life with your awareness on your smart phone or thinking about the past or future and missing the present moment.  See if you can be present one time each day to whoever is in front of you (whether you like them or not).  And, bonus, if you can do something to make their life 1% better (which may just be a smile, a compliment, helping them, holding their hand, listening without judgement).  It does not have to be big - your presence is the greatest gift you can give anyone in your life.

I have learned that being sincerely present to others is a cure all.  If you are lonely, volunteer at a senior center.  If you are angry, work with people who have medical disabilities or are dying.  If you are sad, spend time with children.  Use your emotion to spur you into giving.  Make your heartache your inspiration to create something that serves others.  I believe it is being made clear to each of us as we look upon the state of our individual homes, our neighborhoods, our countries, and our world, that there is no time left to think about whether or not we want to stand up and contribute our piece of the puzzle.  I belive it is clear that the time to think about should I do what I love or should I keep my 9-5 because I am not sure, etc, etc is over.  The world needs you.  You are the missing piece that the world is waiting for and, we are all in this togther.  Your piece connects to mine, which connects to another.  If we are all willing to contribute our piece, we are no longer one little puzzle piece, by ourselves in a big, overwhelming world, but part of the most beautiful picture and amazing story of true peace and love for all.  I hope you will join me in 2017 to bring more true care into the world.  Together, we are the solution to all the things that sit heavy on our hearts. 

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Namaste - the light in me salutes the light in you.  I know that when we use our light to light the candle of another, we lose none of our own light, we multiple the light of the world.

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