Light and the Load

Nov 25

I decided I have exactly enough time for a podcast episode this week.

AND, it’s great to be back because I had a recent experience that is shaping how I will approach this 2021 holiday season and I can’t wait to share it with you.

I’m certain you’ve seen and probably followed a large vehicle bearing an Oversize Load banner before. Imagine if as we moved through our days and interacted with people we could see an indication of what kind of load they were carrying?

I was invited this year to participate as an influencer with the Light the World campaign and since this is one of my FAVORITE ways to celebrate December it took about 3 nano seconds for me to accept. You can easily come along on this light-filled journey. Start by printing the calendar below—but don’t limit yourself to these daily suggestions. The whole idea is to be YOU and to intentionally let your light shine so that together we can lessen the collective load. Our recent history has been heavy for sure, but there are things we can do!

If like a sweet friend of mine you are personally carrying an Overside Load—try even brief moments of outward focus—these efforts can be healing.

Start small by planning random acts of kindness—just one a day—and then keep track by writing in a journal or building a kindness chain. I cut small strips of paper and keep them on my kitchen window sill. This helps me remember. Yesterday, on my second trip to the grocery story (I forgot garlic and sour cream) I asked Dana the checker what her favorite candy is (M&Ms) and I bought her a bag. She must have said, “Thank you” 5 times!

“There is this: Getting up each day and going towards love & kindness & other things that take the hurt away & and if it’s not always easier to go that that, that’s never been enough of a reason for me to stop.”

— Kai Skye (Brian Andreas)

Near the end of a recent small group class on building emotional resilience, we gathered items to take to three local urgent care locations. We wrote notes (of course) but we also recorded a short video message—linked it to this QR code—and dropped the baskets off.

Again, to see the appreciation on (masked) faces of people who have extended themselves in heroic ways during this pandemic is clear evidence that simple recognition is a powerful form of service.

My final thoughts today are developing into an analogy about how our individual efforts and influence across time and space (think tiny stars) create patterns or constellations of kindness; in our own lives for sure, but also in far reaching ways—even across a vast sky. Just do the good you can, as often as you can and trust that you are a much needed point in a bigger picture—one that may help others navigate a difficult journey!