The cynical optimist

The news blares in the living room, the anchor is telling the story of another fatal shooting, another community in mourning. There are photos of a protest, of hurt and wounded people demanding answers for the senseless violence. You watch it all…silent…heart heavy, and it is only Sunday. A full week still lays ahead where this will repeat night after night.

This is our sad reality. We are constantly berated with bad news, hate, anger, death. Some days, if you’re like me you feel overwhelmed by it all and wish there was more you could do to make a difference. Other days you feel nothing. You become numb to it all and you just get tired.

Well, I don’t have a big platform. I know a lot of people won’t read this and maybe no one will care but lately I’ve felt tired and numb with the constant barrage of negativity. So I want to do something to change that. I want to spread hope, love, kindness positivity. I want to be the light that I am longing to see, and hey, maybe if this catches on I’ll see something bigger come out of. If not at least I can say I tried something. That maybe for just one person I was the light.

In the end what I guess I am trying to say is take the time this week to be the light. Share the love and kindness with the world. Say something nice to someone, lift up others, spread hope. It only takes a second to help. Will you take that second with me?

Oh! And if you do this, use the #BeTheLightChallenge hashtag, on whatever social media platform you prefer and task others you know with the same challenge. I’d love to see if this single candle starts something bigger