The Collective Dream

These last two pandemic years, have brought us all a period of isolation, which allowed a period of reflection as well. We were forced to consider what would happen if someone we love, or even if we, ourselves fell ill. We were also forced to miss out on precious moments and memories with each other. We were faced with a tremendous amount of division and discord. Our children were forced to put masks on, hiding their smiles, and hindering their perception and expression of emotion. We were instructed to stand five or six feet apart, and encouraged not to hug, or over congregate. We were forced to spend a lot more time considering the things that make us feel joyful and healthy and connected to each other. In the absence of each other's embrace and connection, we realized how important it is. More importantly, we realized how important it is for our children.

My dream for this new year is that we learn to accept each other. That we learn to listen to other's perspectives and feelings with open ears, and an open heart. We take it all in, not to merely just respond but to understand each other better. This goes for our children too, it does not matter that we are the adults, or what expectations we hold for them, my dream is for us to allow our little people to be the people THEY wish to be not who we wish them to.

My dream is for a world where we are not so consumed in the hustle and bustle that we forget to treat each other kindly. That parents realize money is not as important as spending quality time with your children, and friends realize no matter how busy you get, send a text to check in on each other. My dream is for children to realize that their voices matter, no matter how small they are and that we ALL realize it's okay to express and speak on our feelings, even if it makes other people uncomfortable.

My dream is that if you see a car accident on the way to work, you stop and call for help or get out and stay with them until help arrives, because that is what you would want someone to do for you. My dream is that if you see someone crying, whether you know them or not, you ask if they are okay. My dream is that we find a way to make everyone feel cared for and understood and for those struggling a bit harder, that we help get them connected to the resources they need for healing. I dream of a world where the "broken " children and adults alike, find space where they can be open and honest and unleash their pain so that it does not manifest inside them and lead them to hurt themselves or others. I dream of a world where school shootings and mass shootings and violent protests do not exist because we have all learned to hold space for each other and move through contrast in a way that enables us to effectively, peacefully coexist.

I dream of a world where we all smile at strangers, one where we stop to put our change in a homeless person's cup. A world where we do not care if you are black or white, Christian or Muslim, vaccinated or unvaccinated, we are respectful of each other and we encourage our children to be. I dream of a world where we can openly express our feelings, and our struggles and know that they will be met with empathy and compassion.

I dream of a world where our children no longer have to wear masks at school, so they can be receptive of each other's social and emotional cues and grow into beings that are so interconnected that they recognize we are all a reflection of each other. I pray for a world where every voice matters and every life matters. A world where our value is not determined by what we wear or what we have in our bank account rather what we have in our hearts and that we vow to show up for ourselves and for others equally.