Sunday, May 16, 2010

the ties that bind

this morning was the aids walk in ny. i was out doing my 6 miles as people started showing up in the park. they were arriving by car, by car with driver, van, public bus, private bus, stroller, wheelchair, scooter and bicycle. it was incredible to see how many people were going to walk and see the smiles and excitement on everyone's face.

but what struck me the most were the different types of people who made the commitment to walk. they were young, old, male, female, black, white, asian, latin, disabled, gay, straight. to think back a few decades when aids first appeared and it was labeled the gay disease. and to now see how it's a disease many are living with and many are seeing the need to raise funds to support these people and also for a cure. 

so what i saw today and what touched me so is what i've been saying for a long time - give people a common goal or dream and that desire rises above the differences people may have. here is a cause many people have been touched by and can see there is the need to help. that need is the commonality people share. i watched the people getting ready to enter the park at the base of the giant keith haring balloon. the balloon of the baby with a heart...and i saw all the people there with just as giant a heart.

wwcd: if we can focus on the similarities, the differences don't seem as great

3 comments:

  1. acknowledging that which we share seems to enable us to see and tolerate that which is different even if there are great differences. perhaps we can operate from the premise that we are not separate, breathing the same friggin' air, needing sleep when we are tired, crying when we are so happy we overflow, and hanging our heads in sorrow. that which we do not share is so much less than we think! in fact it is all about what we think... to help another is to help ourselves. i think that was part of what was so beautiful today when you saw "everyone" out there hoping to solve something that is hurting "us." you are a sweet one, that you are!

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  2. from Aunt Judy....
    One of my favorites....very poignant....u have such an extraordinary talent with words.....when is the next one coming?

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  3. Focusing on the common goals in stead of divisions, makes everything seem much more doable! Thank you for reminding us all.
    xox

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