Soft Around the Edges

Have you ever softened your gaze on a Christmas tree and watched the lights blur into an impressionistic medley of color? Each bulb shines with its own bright light—the red no more beautiful than the green—yet together they create a spectacular array. And when one bulb fails, the whole strand can go dark.

Wouldn't it be nice to teach our children that we aren't separate from one another, just different—and that different doesn't mean better or worse? Each of us carries a gift only we can give, like bulbs on a tree or leaves on an aspen. Every leaf has its own intricate design, yet it moves in sync with the whole tree through every season of its life.

What if we softened our gaze, judged less, and worked together as a synergistic strand of light resonating with who we truly are: compassion, kindness, generosity, and love? Rather than alienate one another, we could embrace our connections with a sense of oneness and wonder. As we let down our defenses, each individual light can shine within this beautiful, impressionistic painting we call life. We are in this together, and your part is just as important as anyone else's.

May the magic of this holiday season refresh your sense of wonder and hope as you continue along your path, enriching the lives around you and sharing the gift that only you can give.

"Together we stand, divided we fall." — Pink Floyd