Duty
I like to go back and watch old movies sometimes. Those ones that you’re supposed to watch.
I watched It’s a Wonderful Life for the first time. Here are a few thoughts:
- When James Stewart and Donna Reed were supposed to be the 18-year-old or early 20’s version of themselves, they *did not* look remotely that young. And I think it’s cool that the directors and whatnot didn’t care and still cast them in the role of their younger selves anyway.
- I can’t speak for how it was received in 1946, but it was completely evocative for me. It really pulled my heartstrings throughout.
- In non-fiction life, too many people don’t get the instant-gratification of the post-Clarence revelation. They don’t get the community and money rolling in.
- But with that, the rest of the story is 100% true for nearly anyone. If any one person wasn’t born, the consequences throughout a community (and maybe even larger scales) would be immense. Incredibly so, I think.
Thoughts
During this holiday season, I think I’ve been especially attuned to so much community support for people during the holidays. Gift drives for the children. Free food for those in need.
And, yet, I’m extremely conscious that there are 12 months in the year. How do we hold on to this spirt for all of them. How do we make sure that people don’t get to a place of desperation before we help? Before we help to take a load off?
There are very real, concreate answers to this. It takes a community to come together to say what those answers are. But the reality is that no one should ever feel so desperate to attempt suicide because of a lack of resources. Ever.
Ever.
Back then $5,000 would buy a house! Now, $5,000 could be the difference between that place of desperation and, well, at least a little more security.
There are too many Mr. Potters running things. There are a damn lot of George & Mary Baileys. So many. And we need to do better by the folks that care about and support their communities. 100% of the time. Not just in December.
This time of year can be challenging for so many reasons. If you’re reading this and struggling: you are amazing. You are enough. You have positively affected so many lives. You are needed on Mother Earth. If you need to talk to someone, all you need to do in the United States is dial 9-8-8.
Closing Out
However you are feeling during this winter holiday season, I hope you are taking care of yourself and doing things that feed your soul.
I have a strand of lights on my porch, but my Yule tree is not up nor are any of my other Yuley-decorations. Except, I’m drinking a glass of red out of one of my grandfather’s “Happy Holiday” glasses that he passed to me shortly before he passed away. That’s the only Yule family tradition that’s going on in my house, because my energy hasn’t allowed me to do more without feeling yucky. (I say Yule, because that’s what I practice. My family celebrated Christmas.)
Stay well. You are enough. You are loved, even if it’s not always directly apparent.
Namaste.