Everyone is vulnerable.

Blog post

Photo by Sarah RK on Unsplash

Everyone is vulnerable. For some people, for Steve, it comes out as fear, avoiding situations where the vulnerability is exposed. For others, for an awful lot of people these days, vulnerability comes out as anger, pushing away anything that feels like it might pierce their shell. Steve watches people on TV sometimes, shouting the odds about this, that, or the other, railing against the truth of reality, and he always sees the pain first. They have lost someone, or they never had someone, and so now they have lost themselves. – Richard Osman, We Solve Murders

Sometimes when I least expect it, an author makes me see something or someone in a new light. Their words jump off the page challenging me to take another look and try and see beyond my assumptions, my biases, my outrage.

I’m not a saint by any means, so I’m not always able to change my perceptions. And frankly, I’m not sure that everyone warrants this second look (particularly those who abuse their power). But even if I don’t always change my mind, I welcome these invitations to stretch myself and to be aware of my own contradictions and vulnerabilities.

Doing so actually gives me some hope. (Something I/we dearly need these days.)

It gives me a sense that perhaps deep down, we’re not so different after all. And that maybe, just maybe, we can find a way to be little more open, more understanding, more kind. And keep building bridges toward each other – or at least not burn them down.

Richard Osman’s We Solve Murders is a delightfully funny, engaging book. It’s a good distraction when one’s vulnerability seems too close to the surface.

Because we all can use a break sometime…

Speaking of which, my apologies for not keeping up with my Substack posts over the last month or so. I took some time off to spend with my new granddaughter (joyous!) and another block of time for shoulder surgery and now recovery. I hope to be back up to speed soon. But for a few more weeks, it will be slow going.

Given that, I am extending May’s Book Giveaway – a copy of Teaching with Heart autographed by Parker J. Palmer, Taylor Mali, and Sarah Brown Wessling – to June 30th. I will pick up with a new Book Giveaway in July. (Click for more information about Teaching with Heart and the monthly Book Giveaways.)

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Best,

Megan
Be Kind. Be Strong. Be Well

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