Month: June 2020

Guest Blog – Sort of Back To Normal

Kelsey wrote a guest blog today.  Be brave, stay safe, and enjoy.

“Today I want to say I have felt closer to my family than I ever have before.   I wanted to tell you because you might think it is too much time away from other people.   You may be sad.  You may be lonely.  When you really think about it, you are spending quality time with family that you didn’t get before.  Look on the bright side, restaurants are opening inside and outside for dining.  Be kind.  Be brave.  Be yourself.

If you really get into it, life is getting back to normal but you still have to wear a mask.  It is a good thing because people need to start feeling happy.  They probably need time away from home.  It is a good thing that you can go out and/or stay in.  Life is sort of getting back to normal.   The good thing for me is that I always have a family to see and a car to see them.  I hope you had a family to see, too.   Now that things are a little bit back to normal, enjoy it. I cannot wait to go to a restaurant and EAT!   My family is not ready just yet, but I hope that you get out and can finally go somewhere.”

Be brave and enjoy.

Be a Light

As virtual graduation ceremonies commemorate the year and reopening phases begin, we continue to hope for the future and 2020.  Bright spots have started to appear.

Today, driving slowly as Be a Light played on the radio, a car was pulled over onto the side of the road.  A woman was standing in the middle of the road holding out her hand to stop.  As the lyrics played, “…be a light” she slowly walked across the road.  Next, it was clear.  This kind woman was carefully placing a turtle onto the grass at the side of the road.  She was freeing a turtle who was stuck in the middle of the road.

This small act of kindness was a glimmer of hope.  She was a light.

Look for the good.  Save a turtle.  Be Brave.   Be a Light.

Difference

Difference is always celebrated in the community of a rare disease family.  Often called zebras for their unique traits, we embrace differences here.

Kelsey mentioned that she had a new song in her head.  She wrote the words for me and has no idea how remarkable they are right now for our world.  Children are our future and our future looks bright tonight…

Still a work in progress, but the current chorus:

Difference

“Difference is love.

Difference is pure.

Difference is power.

Difference is a thing that can never be taken apart.”

Be brave and celebrate your difference today.

Choose Love

It has been hard to find the words.  It has been hard to face the day in 2020.  Masks are worn and isolation is felt all around.  Yet as America slowly reopens, one angry thought overshadows even a pandemic.  An angry thought was felt nation-wide this week and our hearts feel it.

In the first week of June 2020, we are saddened.  We are vulnerable.  We have fear and anger at times in our hearts.

Over the course of these recent days, many families and individuals have come to mind.  Scarlett Lewis is the most recurring voice because she personally knows the pain caused by an angry thought.  Her inspirational message and social-emotional program were developed because of tragedy from an angry thought.

When Scarlett speaks, she always points out that her son, Jesse, lost his life as a hero at Sandy Hook Elementary because of an angry thought.  Scarlett has reached a global scale with the Choose Love Jesse Lewis Movement.

In the first week of June 2020, let’s think like Scarlett.  Let’s Choose Love.   If love is all we need and our actions are driven by love or anger, why can it be so hard to Choose Love?

Scarlett, keep spreading your message and inspiring others to Choose Love.

Reflect.  Hope.  Be Brave.  Choose Love.