A global pandemic teaches us, over and over again, that the myth of the single heroic individual is a limiting story. We can't be "left alone" to overcome a virus. True heroism involves cooperation and collaboration, coming together to help, protect, and heal one another. This is not "my land" on which to make a … Continue reading Unite
hope
Together
Every time there is a flood, wildfire, hurricane - afterward, some folks decide to express their perspective that the victims are somehow to blame. Why do they live close to the ocean? Why did they rebuild there after the last flood? Fires come every summer, what were they thinking? Leaving aside, for now, how little … Continue reading Together
Service
A few thoughts on leadership: As we look to leaders on all levels - in our towns and counties, our state, our nation, our world - what we crave is the visible demonstration of commitment to service. There is so much uncertainty, every leader and decision-maker will err. No one will call every shot perfectly. … Continue reading Service
Earth day
Honoring Mother Earth means caring for the human, animal, and plant family she sustains. Our beautiful blue planet is not a source to exploit; it is a source to nourish, and celebrate. Today, sharing the Dalai Lama's Earth Day message: "Our mother earth is teaching us a lesson in universal responsibility. This blue planet is … Continue reading Earth day
Faith, hope, and charity
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, I wrote a series of short stories inspired by "faith, hope, and charity" - the cardinal virtues. More recently, in watching the documentary "The Roosevelts," I heard this quote from FDR's acceptance speech at the 1936 Democratic convention: "We do not see faith, hope and … Continue reading Faith, hope, and charity
The interdependence of life
Last night we watched a Nature special on the wildlife of Cuba. Beautiful, funny, terrifying. (I'd forgotten how these depictions of animal life always include the element of menace: a baby sea turtle, hours old, madly paddling her way across the sand to the ocean, the deep water that is, for her, relative safety; we … Continue reading The interdependence of life
Any way the wind blows
Spring in my town is like this: sunrainwindhailsunrainsleetsunwind, windwindwindwindwin, sun. Sometimes, that's all in one day. This pandemic is like that too, highs and lows and everything in between, all in a single day. Good news = sun, bad news = rain, that cough I have every spring due to allergies = a hailstorm of … Continue reading Any way the wind blows
Our ability to protect one another
Yesterday, my sweetheart went to the grocery store. He was prepared with a fabric mask and a list of what will last us for a couple of weeks. He was not prepared for how many folks he observed ignoring the distancing rules and not wearing masks. Fellow humans, we can protect one another by making … Continue reading Our ability to protect one another
Absorbing change
We are all absorbing change at a tremendously rapid rate, re-arranging life and trying to figure everything out in the last few weeks. Work, home, school, all changed. Like a flood of water cascading downhill, carving new channels through what we thought was unchangeable granite. This is the time to reach out to anyone who … Continue reading Absorbing change
The big picture
My challenge and aspiration, today, is to maintain a focus on the big picture. I work in higher education, an industry which is having to rapidly adjust its operations. We are scrutinizing every detail of how courses are offered, how students are supported, and how campuses can function. In this, we are not alone; just … Continue reading The big picture
Elizabeth Fountain, Author 