I lived in San Bruno during the ’89 earthquake, and I vividly remember the days following. Neighbors ate dinner outside in community. We grabbed hands during unsettling aftershocks. We made sure each other had batteries for transistor radios. We tried to shore up cracks in the sidewalk and made sure gas lines were turned off. All you had to do was ask for a flashlight, lighter, or blanket, and one would appear. No one, no one cared who you voted for, who you were married to, or what your religion was. We just cared that each other was safe. The golden rule ruled.
Renowned Psychiatrist and Holocaust Survivor Viktor Frankl said, “How we react to the unchanging conditions—that which we have no control over—is up to us.” In our mind exists the ultimate freedom.
In this moment, that for half of the country is a celebration and for the other half is a very scary and uncertain time, I want to invite us to stay grounded in what we can do to contribute—as a network does—to the common good.
Here is what I know to be true:
I can choose compassion and to comfort those who are hurting.
No one needs to mandate that. I don’t need to wait for a policy or a president to dictate that or defy it. I can choose—of my own free will—to exercise empathy for others.
Love transforms relationships.
Nothing can change my foundational love for humanity and complex, fascinating, soul-nurturing relationships. I can choose to invest in loving people today through simple acts of kindness.
I can contribute support, humor, patience, and grace—when I’m able.
“Empathy is defined as the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. As leaders, we have a unique opportunity to exercise that muscle to an extreme right now, as far as our comfort zone muscles will allow.”
The only way to get past pain is through it. Let yourself and others grieve. A healthy network senses the capacity of others—and knows when to step up and when to step back and refuel or make room for new leadership. Let’s be mindful of each other’s capacity and step in when able.
Author Valarie Kaur reminds us that in the Sikh faith, “there are no strangers,” and everyone is a part of ourselves that we do not yet know. Philosophers and faith leaders suggest that we are all spiritual beings having a human experience—that we’re all just walking each other home. Just for today, can we stay grounded in that simple understanding?
I just want to be human together, America.
Empathy is defined as the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. As leaders, we have a unique opportunity to exercise that muscle to an extreme right now, as far as our comfort zone muscles will allow.
And if your muscles are sore, or if you can’t see what the next steps are, have a seat. Take a rest. Let others take a turn. And when you’re ready, I’m confident we have a flashlight you can borrow.
-Suzanne
