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“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” ~ Sun Tzu

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There is a new fire in my heart.

It is a call to step forward, to be bold, and to encourage you to do the same. The time for hiding is over. I’ve been hearing a whisper roaring through my soul.

This is our moment to stand in our vulnerability and to rise with love.

Beyond Routine: Finding Meaning in Everyday Encounters.

“When we practice loving kindness and compassion, we are the first ones to profit.” ~ Rumi

People think of a doctor’s visit as just another task they need to check off their list. I don’t see it that way. Errands, appointments, and daily routines are opportunities for creating a new story, a better story, in a divided world.

We can shift from just existing next to people to really seeing them.

That’s what happened to me last week. What could have been an ordinary experience at a doctor’s appointment transformed into life lessons on the importance of deep listening, visibility, and the positive influence that kindness has on a world that often feels out of control.

Conversations with three strangers turned into a reminder that simple moments have the potential to hold profound significance. Caring can exist in the smallest interactions of everyday life—checking out at the grocery store, sitting in a waiting room, passing a stranger on the street, or at a doctor’s appointment.

My First Conversation: Seeing and Being Seen

“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” ~ Epictetus

At check-in, I noticed that the receptionist wasn’t wearing a name tag. That’s never been okay with me. Names matter. They affirm our unique identity, enhance our visibility, and remind us that we are all more than just a role or a task to be completed.

Our name is not just a word. Its vibration is an invitation to be seen and respected.

Three words within a simple question—“What’s your name?”—sparked an animated and warm conversation between us and I’ll always remember her name because of it.

My Second Conversation: The Transformative Power of Listening

The other person in the waiting room seemed as if he was just passing time until it was his turn to see the doctor, too.

I can’t remember what I first said to him, but whatever it was, he began to tell me story after story about his struggles with alcohol, the time he was shot by his best friend, how he “returned the favor” by shooting his friend in the leg, and his courageous journey toward sobriety.

His vulnerability was raw and real, and in those moments, listening to him bridged the gap between two strangers who otherwise might never have exchanged a word.

The conversations I had with the these two people reminded me that unexpected connections can unfold when we least expect it.

My Third Conversation: The Price of Prejudice

“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” ~ Mother Teresa

In the exam room, the doctor’s assistant reviewed my medications and took my blood pressure. Of course, I asked her name, too.

Then she told me something that broke my heart.

“Years ago, when I was working in a department store, one of the customer’s came over to me, looked at my name tag, and made fun of me. He said that it was a stupid name and that no one had that name. I don’t think it had anything at all to do with my name. He didn’t like the color of my skin. He didn’t like that I was different.”

We sat in that truth for a while, talked about prejudice, resilience, and the pain that lingers long after the cruel words are spoken.

All three conversations were unexpected and deeply moving, and all three conversations turned into extraordinary moments of connection.

As you go about your day, keep your heart open to all the spontaneous opportunities that open the door to offering your warmth, kindness, and a listening ear to strangers.

Nothing is “just an errand.”

Every moment offers a choice: Will we rush through our life? Or Will we infuse ordinary moments with heartfelt compassion, kindness, and love?

As you go through your day:

>> Offer someone your warm smile.

>> Make kind eye contact.

>> When you communicate, ask their name.

>> Listen with full presence.

Because of the turbulence in America right now, people seem to be more vulnerable and open, and I’m more vulnerable and open, too.

When we are willing to listen to each other, it reminds us that even during times like this, all is not lost.

Kindness exists. Goodness exists. Connection is possible.

What a gift.

Choosing Love in Uncertain Times.

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” ~ The Golden Rule

Are you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, unsettled, and exhausted? If so, it’s understandable. This is a disruptive time. We’re standing at the crossroads of seeing old systems fall and new ones take their place.

Will you respond to chaos with fear, or will you respond to chaos with courage and love? As Rumi said so eloquently, “Love is the bridge between you and everything.”

While you join groups that care about preserving our democracy, call your representatives, and show up at town hall meetings, make sure that you:

>> Don’t give up.

>> Stay fully present and grounded.

>> Find moments of inner peace and joy.

>> Dance, sing, laugh, cry, write, and above all, keep breathing deeply and slowly.

>> Create.

>> Make each minute count.

>> Care, love, be kind, listen, and connect.

When the dust settles, only one thing will matter: How we have treated each other. Together, we have the power to build our own Garden of Eden.

Wrestling with the “Serenity Prayer.”

“God grant me the Serenity to accept the thing I cannot change,

The Courage to change the things I can,

And the Wisdom to know the difference.” ~ Reinhold Niebuhr

The second line calls for courage, and I embrace that fully. Activism requires it.

The line that I’m struggling with is the first line—accepting what I cannot change. How do I accept the dismantling of our precious democracy and all the values I cherish? How do I surrender to bigotry, hatred, and violence? I can’t.

The wisdom to discern between what can and cannot be changed is an ongoing battle within me, but despite my confusion, I know one thing for sure: you and I can choose how we show up in the world.

I choose love. And that is no small thing.

No matter what, keep your heart open, stay grounded, and move forward with one truth: We belong to each other. Let’s rise to this occasion together.

The Test of Our Legacy

A stream of consciousness poem by Cheryl Melody Baskin ©

We are neither good nor bad. We are the shadow and the light of our imperfect humanity.

The test of our legacy will not be in how the world changes, but in how we choose to respond to these changes.

It is up to us to witness what transpires around us with calm purpose.

Let’s root ourselves in the only truth: Love is our call to action.

Neither chaos nor celebration define us.

No one knows when their time on Earth will end, so while we are here, let’s embody the vibration of unconditional love.

Everything in life is temporary, and what we perceive as good or bad can shift. Do not allow any outcome to define you.

Breathe into your soul of souls every glimmer of light, gratitude, and compassion, and widen their energy fields.

This is our power. This is our path forward.

This is our legacy.

Even as the world around us changes, if we walk this journey together with love, dignity, and respect, we will be the peace we long for in the world.

This is how real change begins.

 “You see, we may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.” ~ Maya Angelou

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