Can you feel that?

Can you sense the change in mood? Can you hear the same words uttered differently?

We are on the precipice of a new age; an age of community, of collaborative thinking. Not only can we reach across the table to hold a friend’s hand in need, now we can also reach across the digital space to say “are you okay?”

The Winter Approaches

Now that our pocketbooks are thinner and our wallets carry less weight, we are all like church mice, saving what we can for the lean days of winter. I believe we are entering the winter of such days, and that when we look back we will remember the generosity of the human spirit. With dwindling income we will rethink the commercialism of Christmas. We will give gifts that mean something, not a gift that shows our wealth or standing, but a gift that speaks volumes of how important we are to each other.

We have not saved for this winter because we never really believed we would ever be “without”. Now as I look around, I can see the funding of homeless shelters, extra-curricular school programs, food banks and other services that cater to the needy, struggle to feed and do more with less. As a community we must look in our own larders and see what we can spare for those in need. We are one community, and in times like this, we must look after our neighbor, our world, and to turn our heads away from the suffering of others is inhuman.

Are You Okay?

In the coming months, reach out to the people in your networks and offer a helping hand or words of support. A kind word goes a long way, all it takes is a few keystrokes, barely anytime at all. We need to offer a hand up, one hand to the other. It’s not just the large earth shaking decisions from our governments and corporations that will make the difference, it will be you and your kindness that will inch us bit by bit forward.

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