Right now, it’s far too easy to find another reason to wake up scared, resentful or angry.
The start of a long-slogging election year. The horrifying images that roll in across our social media feeds from the Middle East. The price of literally anything at the grocery store ($7 for a dozen eggs? I’m seething).
Public polling tells us we can’t get along across differences, we don’t trust our government, and we feel more socially isolated than ever. Some suggest that democracy is at stake and our planet is on fire.
Whoa — this all feels very apocalyptic! Perhaps I should do less late-night doom scrolling.
Truth be told, these issues worry me. What kind of planet and human experience are we leaving for the next generation? I think often of my nieces, 19 and 12. I think of all the kids I spend time with as an honorary uncle.
What also worries me is how we’re treating one another, kids and adults alike. I worry about how our daily interactions as humans move us toward or away from cultivating an appreciation for our shared humanity.