Many of us feel that whatever we’re going through at the moment, we’re alone. We isolate ourselves from the rest of the world and stew in our pain, fear and loneliness convinced no one has experienced the pain that we’re going through.

These are the precise times when we need to call on those we know – both near and far – who Love us and whom we can trust, to share our feelings and our state of mind.

These are golden opportunities to solidify relationships with those we care about and care about your well-being as well.

Maybe if we take a chance and share a part of ourselves – a very real part – we’ll find that others will do the same with us. And now we can be there for them.

We can and will never get through this life alone without help. It always takes a village. . . .

Setting myself up for tomorrow or the week by clearly preparing what my intentions/goals are for the upcoming days give me a sense of space, freedom and room to breathe. I don’t feel so rushed even though my tasks may seem to be many throughout my day.

I can only say that it gives me a way to get out in front of where I’m intending to go for the day. I feel much more at ease with clarity in my mind. And as we all know, clarity is power.

Although, it can be quite easy to fall out of this habit of preparing and just wing it. I’ve done that many times. I get through. No major damage. But, there isn’t nearly the same progress. I feel a bit haphazard and frazzled.

I’d much rather come to my new day prepared with room to breathe. [Deep breath] Ahhhhh.

It can be so difficult for me to not take things personally and refrain from emotionally engaging when someone – anyone, comes at me with anger, sarcasm, rudeness or the like.

Why? I believe most of it comes from the ego telling us: You are the most important thing in the universe.

One very important element to remember is this: Most of the time, it ain’t about you/me/us. It’s about whoever is casting the negativity towards us. But oh, easier said than done, not to strike back with our own fear, anger, resentment and more.

Instead, I’m striving to be in a place of Love and grace. Rising above the muck and blessing them “for they know not what they do.” To drop the ego and to not engage in their negative emotional mire their choosing to wallow in. But instead chose to Love.

Everyone is broken in some way and we are all looking to be seen, heard and understood.

Maybe we can listen instead.

My heart aches as a father, a parent, an acquaintance, a stranger and even a fellow human being for those parents who have lost a child – a young adult – a teenager, in a car accident. They seem to happen way too often nowadays.

This most recent one hit close to home for me this last weekend as the kids involved go to my son’s high school. There were three who passed away due to at least one poor decision from the driver of the vehicle who ran a red light at excessive speed. In addition, only one of the passengers had their seatbelt on. That young adult survived. To my knowledge none of the students had been drinking.

[Deep sigh] What a senseless way to lose our youth, when it could have been so easily prevented. Let’s all help the young one’s in our lives to understand the consequences of their actions in this world. Let’s do our best to guide them and inspire them to rise to the occasion.

If not us, then who?

There have been many times in my life where I didn’t know how much I appreciated situations, circumstances and even people until they were no longer there.

Why must we take – sometimes what we value most in life – these things for granted? Because it’s “normal?” It’s routine? Our minds are no longer blown?

What if we were to wake up and find things different? You were no longer able to use your legs, you had no job or any source of income or even worse, your loved ones were gone.

Maybe we can see how incredibly precious these things in our lives are and recognize them. Appreciate them. And if possible when it comes to people, let them know how much you value their existence in your life.

Couldn’t hurt, right?