Inside Out

It has been one of those very hard to witness news cycles where we all watch in real time while Russia continues to invade Ukraine causing families to be separated, a rising death toll and an overwhelming refugee situation. Sometimes it feels like we are watching a movie, but it is so important not to get numb or complacent about what is happening in the world. While we may live in a country that is still fighting over wearing masks and whether to get vaccinated, there are those an ocean away wondering if today will be their last on this earth due to war.

Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all. -Dale Carnegie

It is hard at times not to feel paralyzed emotionally trying to process everything that is going on. Sometimes we feel so much that it seems as if we are fighting our way through an emotional hurricane. We are constantly buried under mountains of work, pulled in different directions by children and their needs, a slave to our calendar and its many notifications. We know we should follow the news and at least keep up with the top stories, such as what is going on in Ukraine and when we finally lay our heads down to rest, our brains seem unable to shut down. We continue to try and process everything from our day, what we need to do tomorrow and did we remember to schedule a vet appointment for the dog? We feel tired, stressed, like we aren’t doing enough for the world, for ourselves, for our spouse, kids, friends and yes, maybe even the pet!

Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.
-Harriet Beecher Stowe

It is a given that in the year 2022 most of us have a lot on our plate, we are juggling a life that has only been made harder with a pandemic that is still on the scene. After 2 years, we are all feeling burned out. Everything can feel like it is too much to handle. We are bombarded in the United States with news about rights being taken away, Abortion rights, Rights that allow parents of Transgender Children to get Gender Affirming Care, for Transgender girls to be able to play sports on a girl’s team. Continual inequalities continue to rankle, unequal pay, woefully inadequate support for parents in the workforce, continued racial disparity and violence against those in the Asian, Black, Brown and Native communities.

The world often feels dark and heavy. You must tell yourself, ‘No matter how hard it is, or how hard it gets, I’m going to make it.'
-Les Brown

While the world can sometimes feel oppressively sad, the only way to press forward is to realize that you are the light you are waiting for. We often feel like the world is caving in on us because we feel powerless to do anything about it! But that is not true at all! You have the power to change the world, one act, one donation, one good deed, one march, one vote… at a time! Mind Blowing right? Every single one of us has the power to do good and bring light into the world.

Some examples:
Mr. Rogers, of the famed Mister Rogers Neighborhood, did an episode in 1969 where he sat in a chair and soaked his feet in a kiddie pool to cool off on a hot day and invited Officer Clemmons, played by black actor François Clemmons, to join him. Pools were still segregated in 1969. Mr. Rogers didn’t make a statement about desegregating public pools, but he did show his entire television audience that Officer Clemmons was his friend, that sharing a pool on a hot summer day was normal, as was sharing a towel. His actions demonstrated that segregation was something he not only didn’t agree with, he absolutely did not condone it.

Chef José Andrés and his charity, World Central Kitchen, are currently in Ukraine, Romania and Poland. They are feeding those fleeing violence and seeking refuge in surrounding countries. In a quote that is aimed at Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, Chef Andrés said, "People, we need to speak up against leaders that are breaking us apart... Life is not a Monopoly game. Life is real. And the voiceless and the poor are always facing the consequences.” He doesn’t just rail against what is going on, he fights by showing up, feeding those who need to be fed and demonstrating that there are many ways to fight against oppression, some take up arms and others by feeding those who are hungry, displaced and scared.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. -Joseph Kennedy

Just remember, when the world feels dark and lonely, you have support and you have the power to change your corner of the world, use your voice on social media and at the voting box to advocate for others, advocate for yourself when it comes to your own health and mental health care, volunteer when you can and give money to causes that are important to you. You are more powerful than you know and more magical than you can ever imagine!

As always, thank you for your support and for allowing us to be a part of your journey.

All the best,
Team SG