More On Being the Light: This is What It Looks Like

Too Old for This Sh*t: How to Take Your Life Back from an Ageist Society

Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash

A reminder of who we are, who we can be, who we must be, and how to get there from another generous Substacker

Anyone who has ever visited Manhattan, and I used to live there briefly, has likely visited the Statue of Liberty. If so you might recall Emma Lazarus’s famous 1883 sonnet “The New Colossus” which was written to raise funds for the base of the great statue. It reads:

Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

This is an invitation to be that to others right now and stop posting stuff that adds insult to injury, pain upon pain, hurt upon hurt.

This isn’t a political post. I will leave that to other, better writers. However, I am getting sick to my stomach reading Notes and all the sewage people keep pouring into our eyes, ears and hearts after the election. Kindly, it isn’t helpful. If anything, it sickens us further.

So I’m going to keep on posting the kind of work which allows us hope and healing. Be that person, people. Be that, because that strengthens, lifts, supports and heals us. Here’s a fine example from

Rachel Macy Stafford

:

When I go visit my 93-year-old friend, I always call ahead because she can’t hear the door.

The other day, there was a noticeable absence of excitement upon me saying my name. In a flat tone, my friend began referencing things I didn’t understand.

“I am a few minutes away from your house,” I said, going ahead with my intention. “May I visit?”

There was a pause as my friend processed who was on the other end of the line.

“Rachel, is that you?” she asked expectantly. “I thought you were someone else. Yes, yes! Please come, darling.”

She was at the door waiting when I arrived.

“I love you so much,” Miss S exclaimed, as all 4 feet 7 inches of her fell into my arms. “You don’t know how happy you make me.”

Then, she began to cry.

I don’t know what I did to become so special to this dear woman who used to be my grocery store cashier. I’d just assumed she responded to visits from former customers the same way she does for me. But as we sat on her sofa, and she leaned into me like a small child, telling me about her struggles, I realized that is not the case.

I, too, began to cry.

In the midst of everything that’s happened in the world recently, I’d forgotten who I am.

I am someone’s security.

I am someone’s safe haven.

I am someone’s much-needed exhale.

I’m not too sure of anything or anyone right now — but I know who I want to be.

I want to be the voice on the other end of line telling someone ‘love has not abandoned you’, and then put my words into action. (author bolded)

Photo by eberhard 🖐 grossgasteiger on Unsplash

Be the light. Don’t be the person who uses social media and supposed safe places to download your anger and your resentment and your bitterness all over Dear Reader.

Dear Reader needs us to do better, be better, not bitter. I’m not telling you that your feelings aren’t legit. I’m asking, again, that you consider the impact of your words on the trusting Dear Reader who comes to us for hope, direction, and safety.

Be the light. Because when you and I aren’t, we are part of the problem. We’re better than that. Be the inukchuk.

These are tough times and tough times ask us to rise. Let’s please rise. We are so needed in this world. If this article was helpful, please consider supporting my work. It pays the bills. Well, not yet but I keep hoping!

I am deeply grateful to those people who focus on being of service, and who continually feed the rest of us with words that heal, messages of hope, and speak to our hearts. Thank you.