My planner has daily quotes in it, and today’s is…
“I am only one, but I am one. I can’t do everything, but I can do something.” - Edward Everett Hale
We live in a big world with more people and places and opportunities…and yes, problems, than any single one of us can fully take in on any given day…or lifetime.
With access to 24/7/365 news (more like commentary), it is overwhelming for humans to take in all of the beauty and suffering happening around the globe.
It can make us numb.
It can make me numb.
In the past couple of years, I have done a lot of healing from some hurt that came as a result of my ‘swinging a sword’ in defense of - others or things I believed in or even of myself. I have to be honest, there was a time when I thought my sword swinging days were over. Perfectly content to fly under the radar (so to speak) and live a small, quiet little life.
In my mind, it felt like wisdom. The right thing to do.
…and then I look into a classroom full of eyeballs fixed on mine or someone calls me upset that they were misunderstood by someone(s) and are fearful of retribution or a client calls me with questions on how to thread the needle (so to speak) in dealing with some potentially charged landmines…
…and the sword swinger in me rises up from her nap.
I can’t solve ALL the problems. I won’t win every battle. Also, not every conflict is EVEN a battle. No one is keeping a tally of my wins and losses. Heck, 99% of what I do these days is unknown (and I like it that way).
What I can do is help even the one person. Pour into a classroom of students who are smart and funny and full of hope (and yes, trepidation) for their futures (just like I was at that age). I can help sort out a simple misunderstanding. I can encourage someone having a crisis of confidence. I can be kind. I can love others well. I can point out the good whenever and wherever possible. I can be honest about my own failings and shortcomings. I can be joyful in a world that feels like it is on absolute fire (and let me tell you THAT is a form of sword swinging on its own).
The words in the image below - I absolutely believe…but let me also say, that to even BE POSITIVE on the daily is a flex in today’s world. We all are well aware of what is not going right…so maybe we speak more to each other and here on our socials about all that we see that is going well. Maybe we find a way to speak life into and over each other even when it is hard to see it or feel it.
Maybe that is the flex. Maybe that is how love wins.
Grateful for this week and all the opportunities I had to pour into others…to love others well…to grab a selfie with a hero of mine or a friend…for all the 911 calls from mentees needing to be calmed down or listened to or encouraged. What a gift to be a helper in the year of our Lord 2025.
🤍
#musings
#BEanEncourager
