Tonight as I write this, snug in my bed, listening to the hum of the dishwasher and tunes on my favorite radio station, WXPN, there are others in various corners of the word who are crying, laughing, frowning, smiling, raging, celebrating, grimacing or growling over life circumstances. In my own circles, the husband of a dear friend was just placed on hospice, while another beloved friend was herself, entering into that same level of care. They know each other.  Someone close to me was just offered a job that will allow him to grow in his career. A relatively newly married couple are uprooting and moving to another state since she just got a new job too. Someone else just left her job with an uncertainty about her next career move. Others are launching projects, one sent his book to the printer, while another just published a book and received a prestigious reward for it. I was offered an invitation to vacation in Jamaica by a friend who will be there in August. Of course, I said yes. In a week and a half, I will be celebrating my first (of what I intend to be many) cardio-versary that acknowledges the life changing heart attack on June 12, 2014.

In wider worldly circles, Bruce Jenner claimed her identity as Caitlyn Jenner, while Beau Biden entered into his new life in a different form. An abused dog is now receiving loving care while the one who assaulted him has been arrested. Wars rage on, gun violence persists. Children are abused and neglected. Families are torn apart by addiction. Some heal and go on to help others.

We are often so focused on what is happening in our inner world that we forget what might be occurring just beyond those boundaries. In an attempt to get through each day, sometimes we wear blinders. Sometimes it does feel like more than can be handled, so we retreat into our cave of isolation, when what might help is to venture out where others are there for comfort and mutual support. It is what I prefer to do when I feel overwhelmed. Doing good for others also helps get me through it. Prayer helps. Visualizing the highest good outcome helps. Counting my blessings helps. Knowing that life flows as it does, even when I attempt to re-direct the current.

In this moment, offering compassion for a weary world.