Hope and fear…

Maya Angelou once said, “Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space at the same time. Invite one to stay.”

I was reminded recently how fear can lead people to ugly places of being irrational and unkind. I observed people pulling back, speaking unkindly and not saying hello to one another, as if the virus could be spread through language. They avoided eye contact, as though it could be spread through a look.

In a time when we can’t experience the importance of human touch — a hug or a handshake — as readily as we may like, I am reminded that we can be responsible and practice social distancing and still connect with our words. A quick “Hello, how are you? Beautiful day!” is so easy. A smile that says, “We are in this together” can be so powerful. Even the smallest moment of communication keeps us connected.

I remember a wise woman — my mother — would say, “Kill them with kindness.” ❤️