An American Point of View

I asked her what she thought about what is currently happening in this country. "I don't understand American (as in the language), so I don't know what's really going on." Lol! "Yeah," I agreed, "I don't understand American either." I tried to explain a bit of it to her, to which she explained carefully back to me, "This may be our country now, but it is not our land. We will always be guests."

My mother is an American citizen, living in a country, her country, where she will always feel like a guest. She remembers fleeing Laos, a country she was born into. She fears for me, "When are you going to get your American citizenship?"

One Person at a Time

Politics belong to the politicians. Protests belong to the protesters. Marches belong to the marchers. It's not for everyone. (It's not for me.) I searched a long time for my weapon of choice, and I am happy with my decision. I am a volunteer at women's shelters, at homeless shelters, at wherever they can use me. It's the frontlines; it's where I feel I can best affect change. It's not glorious, not full of powerful words or chants, or witty signs. It's hard, it's dirty, it's lonely, and you will have to beg for help & money more times than you'd like. But it's humbling, and in this life I have chosen to witness the humility of mankind. I've found that it exists deep down inside of us when we think we've nothing left to give. I see it every time I volunteer. We're all not politicians, we're all not protesters, we're all not marchers, but in the end, we do know where we belong and we do have to make a choice on how best we choose to fight for what we believe in.

Compassion

My only resolution this year: to live a more compassionate life. As parents, compassion is one of the virtues we wish to teach our children. I hope. What I've learned, though, is that when it comes to compassion, and all the other paradigms of virtue, we can't teach it. We can only show it & practice it, and especially grace it upon them as well. Through witnessing it, may they become compassionate individuals themselves, may they appreciate it when they need it, and most importantly, may they recognize it when they receive it.

From Me To You

To all my little nieces & nephews: you are so beautiful & strong in your own different ways. You're all coming of age, and I just want to share a few words to wish you well on your journey. It's long, but be patient, and maybe save it for when you need a few words of encouragement.

Embrace It All:
There will be good days, bad days, sad days, mad days, awesome days and incredibly hard days, but you should walk out there and experience them all. You are the sum total of your experiences, so live a full life and cherish even the bad days b/c they teach you to appreciate the good days.

Don't Be Afraid: 
The world can seem like a big & scary place, but it is also awe-inspiring and breathtaking. You may meet monsters, but you will also meet heroes & angels; don't be afraid to recognize them. Someday you may be someone else's angel, so look out for each other, and never give up.

It's OK to Fail: 
You will fail more times than not, but don't be afraid to fail. Failure can teach you some of life's most valuable lessons. Just remember, though, that sometimes you just made a bad decision, so own up to it & move on.

Acknowledge Your Successes: 
If we're afraid of failure, we're even more afraid of success, but success comes in many different shapes & sizes. No matter how great or small your success is, celebrate it. Remember it for those days when you are too hard on yourself.

Be Vulnerable: 
If you don't know the answer, admit it. If you need help, ask for it. You'll never know how strong you really are until you know how strong you really are not. Vulnerability is good because it reminds you of all the things you can't do so that you can excel at all the things you can do.

Respect Life: 
Live life to the fullest, but remember that God can take it away in a second. Always buckle-up, always wear a helmet, don't drink & drive, don't do drugs, have a back-up plan. Trust your instincts, and if your gut tells you no, listen to it.

Be Humble: 
No matter how smart, beautiful, talented, or awesome you are, someone else will always be better at it. Don't let that diminish your self-esteem. Acknowledge those who are better than you and help those who may be struggling. You'll never know when you'll need their help.

Be Comfortable in Your Own Skin: 
It's ok to tell people no. It's ok to tell people they've hurt you. It's ok to walk away. One day you will do what's best for you and you will stand alone, and in those moments you will understand what it means to be worthy of your life.

Forgive: 
Whether it is a friend, a family member, a stranger, or even yourself, learn to forgive them. Forgiveness is not an act so great that only God can bestow it; we can forgive each other, and so we should. Peace only comes to those who do not hold grudges.

Let God Love You: 
There will be times when you will not want to share anything with anyone, but God will still know. Let him be your best friend, and he will make the good times even better. Let him walk with you, and he will guide you through even the darkest times. He knows you better than you know yourself, and he will always love you even when you think there is nothing left to love.