There are so many things, so many ways which we allow ourselves to feel disconnected from one another. There are so many trifling details, trivial and insignificant when considering life's purpose, that we let draw us from the idea that between each and every one of us there is the capacity, the capability to exude the most human of compassion and understanding, of absolute love. There have been some dark days in the last year for many of us; these moments unforeseen have crept up on us all and taken us by surprise.
Each of us has in his or her own way horribly tough obstacles to overcome: the loss of an unborn child; the loss of health; the loss of employment; the loss of a home; the loss of money; the loss of hope. And it's with frustrating agony that I can't say that these horrid moments will suddenly cease, that we're all going to instantly stop having to endure the hardships that we as human beings seem to allow to happen. The pain and torment, intolerance, hatred and blame aren't going to vanish tomorrow.
But the good news is that while we all have endured these things, on the horizon there seems to be a move toward progress and hope. This notion of hope and change is a clichè driven into the ground by the campaign of Barack Obama, but obviously it worked. And despite whatever failures or successes lie in store for this next president, I love that we have already allowed ourselves to succeed. I know that worldwide it was felt; the majority of humankind looked to this one event and saw the prospect of progress, the possibility that we as human beings can evolve and push our perspective of understanding to a level which would allow for the basic necessities of existence to be fulfilled so that no one need suffer; because instead of seeing human suffering and justifying it as some "other," people would realize that there is no real difference between themselves and everyone around them.
Jon Stewart made a joke on the Daily Show the day after the election, saying a strange phenomenon was occurring in New York. He said that on the streets, some sort of rare event was occurring. "People are making eye contact," he said, adding that they were even smiling at each other. And the audience cheered. And I laughed, and felt a surge of near-disbelief before awe-inspiring happiness. What we usually think of as a place of overwhelming negativity was able to transcend, if only for a moment, because they were able to unite behind this idea of change.
It was a triumph of the spirit, and I for one find myself still welling with tears. And going further, I think that whatever failures or successes this next president may have, we as human beings are looking toward the future with hope. We are looking ahead and allowing for the possibility that things can change for the better, and please, all of you who are embracing this, hold on to it. We've had some horribly rough times, nearly all of it caused by actions and forces beyond our control. But if I might make one request of you, please hold on to this feeling of progress and do what you can with it. Look not only to your own life but also those around you, and try your best to push away the past; push past the negative energy that you've experienced, for however long it may have been. And I ask this because there is no use holding on to this negative energy.
And even if you've come to the end of this post and you're still dismissing my words, if you're still unable to let go, just try to find a place in your life where you've been truly happy. Try to remember a moment where somehow the forces which exist in this world have allowed you peace, allowed you to feel as if you belong, allowed you to love and to allow yourself to be loved. Try to recall a point where you've felt the embrace of not only loved ones, but of the energy which goes beyond us all, so that any sense of worry, grief or despair has been drowned out by an overwhelming feeling of security and safety.
And the reason I ask is so that you will be able to allow for me to wish you the best; so that I can write to you right now, at this very moment, and tell you that I absolutely wish you nothing but the most overwhelming, positive experiences that this life has to offer. I hope, with absolute sincerity, that your life changes in positive, constructive ways to allow for wonderful things to happen. I hope that you embrace every aspect of you as a person, accepting your flaws and perceived failures and imperfections, so that you may help yourself and others to succeed. I hope that in reading this, that some part of you accepts this as a genuine gesture of love and compassion; because even though we may have only met once or might never meet at all, even though we may never share an absolute understanding of one another, even though you and I might be experiencing different things or different places, I am absolutely certain that our human experience binds us, that our very existence makes us common. And that this experience will allow you to accept these words as true: I love you, and love is, indeed, all.
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