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