by Mike Rosen
Much has been written about the current state of our world and how it might not feel so good. At the risk of appearing to diminish the impact of global events, I found this past Monday morning to be more challenging than others on a much more local, intimate scale.
Returning from an out-of-town funeral for the Mom of a close friend, I received news of an advanced skin cancer diagnosis of a different close friend’s wife, which will require major, facial disfiguring surgery. A sophomore student at my son’s University died, frozen in a backyard near his home, lost, alone in the early hours. Another fatal shooting around the immigration nightmares. A different family friend lost her Dad unexpectedly Sunday morning. My boys are each back at school and I miss their presence at home. Anything else you’d like to lob out there higher powers? I’m sitting in this wave and the emotions are raw and real and bubbling on my surface.
In an effort to help navigate this wave, I sought out a new perspective and learned of George Saunders, an author whom I wasn’t familiar. Turns out he’s really smart and really popular! I read a concept he’s written about, originated in Buddhism as he practices those teachings: unclenching the fist of story and certainty vs. holding out to the world an open palm and curiosity.
To be frank, that concept doesn’t connect directly with the emotional waves of late. But it helped me remember that life ebbs and it flows and some weekends it flows with sadness and challenge. Other times it flows with unbridled love and joy. I know if my heart and head and palms are open to the world and not clenched or closed this wave will pass, a little bit of kindness put out into the world. I’m confident another wave will come at some point and I may or may not see that one coming. I do know that if I can have the presence and awareness and wherewithal to check to see if my fists are clenched or if my palms are open, I may be able to navigate those waves a bit more easily with kindness, love, and openness leading the way.
With love, let’s take care of each other with open palms.
