As my husband and I enjoy the holiday season, going to see the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center, watching Billy Joel perform at MSG and attending countless celebrations with family and friends, I'm reminded everyday how lucky we are in a world of complete chaos and unrest. For me, and I'm sure for most of you as well, it's becoming increasingly harder understand the hate in this world and it's with a heavy heart and hopeful soul that I write this post.
This past weekend, Joe and I tuned into a 60 Minute special on Aleppo and a group called The White Helmets, who have been true angels in Syria. The group works passionately to help dig potential survivors out of the rubble from bombings. It seems like they're the city's only hope.
It's easy to keep blinders on and believe there's nothing we can do about the situation because it's so far away, but the reality is. This is happening in our world and while we don't have control in order to fix the situation, we can try to make this it a little bit better. Besides donating to relief causes, peace begins with each and every one of us and it's our responsibility to start there with compassion. The frequency we send out into the world is magnetic and if we live with a kind heart, it can create a ripple effect in the world.
I once interviewed the Dali Lama's right hand man, Mattheiu Ricard, who told me the best advice he's ever received (in summary) from the Dali Lama was to, "meditate on compassion."
As you go through the holiday season and into the new year, remove any blinders that may be in your way from the rest of the world, or even for the needy who live in your neighborhood, and recognize you can make a difference, because peace begins with compassion.
