 and I smiled at her. She smiled back, so I smiled more and soon we were both laughing. I will probably never see her again, but for that moment, we were united in joy. Connection. Not so long ago, a young man sat next to me on a bus. He was listening to music through headphones, but it was so loud I could hear it. Without noticing, I started bobbing my head in time to his, along with the beat. When I glanced up from my book I saw an older man looking at us both and grinning. Connection.

When I drive in my car I am isolated. I isolate myself further with the radio or music, rarely looking at the drivers around me unless they cut me off and I look only to scowl. I don’t have that option on public transit. All I can do is be present to the world around me and watch the shifting shadows. All I can do is accept the warmth of a stranger pressing against me in the crowd, catch someone’s eye and smile, be in the moment and wait as we hurtle together through the world.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the U.S. holiday where we honor the work and legacy of Dr. King. I've noted it before here. It's worth remembering again. Martin Luther King Jr. Day reminds us to take note of the sacrifice required for a free society, of the bravery that it takes to stand up and say, "Enough." It challenges us to remember that this work is not done.

The work of a free society requires more than one day a year or one week of lesson plans, though those are fine starts. It requires the commitment of every individual to decide where their lines in the sand are marked; what is acceptable and what is not; when can their voice make a difference. It requires every individual to be brave enough to stand up and speak out even when they are frightened, even when they don't know if it will make any difference at all. You never know who is watching.

I live in a multicultural neighborhood. Part of why I live here is because I have neighbors who are black and white, asian and latino, Christian, Jewish and Muslim. We don't all speak the same language and have the glorious challenge of learning to live together. My local grocery store has an excellent "ethnic" section because it must, to serve all of its customers
and I smiled at her. She smiled back, so I smiled more and soon we were both laugh. I will credibly never visit her again, but for that moment, we were unite in joy. joining. Not so long ago, a young world sit next to me on a bus. He was listening to music through headphones, but it was so forte I could hear it. Without noticing, I started dock my head in time to his, along with the beat. When I glanced up from my book I saw an honest-to-god man looking at us both and grinning. joining. 

 When I drive in my car I am isolated. I isolate myself farther with the radio or music, rarely looking at the drivers around me unless they cut me off and I look merely to scowl. I do n’t have that option on public transit. All I can do is be present to the world around me and watch the shifting shadows. All I can do is accept the warmth of a stranger pressing against me in the crowd, catch someone ’s eye and smile, be in the moment and wait as we hurtle in concert through the universe. 

 Sunday, January 15, 2012 

 Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the U.S. holiday where we respect the workplace and bequest of Dr. King. I've noted it before here. It's worth remembering again. Martin Luther King Jr. Day reminds us to take note of the sacrifice command for a free society, of the bravery that it takes to stand up and say, " adequate. " It challenges us to remember that this work is not done. 

 The work of a free society necessitate more than one day a year or one week of lesson plans, though those are all right starts. It requires the commitment of every individual to decide where their lines in the sand are marked; what is acceptable and what is not; when can their voice have a dispute. It requires every individual to be audacious enough to stand up and speak out even when they are frightened, even when they don't know if it will reach any difference at wholly. You never know who is watching. 

 I live in a multicultural region. Part of why I populate here is because I have neighbor who are black and white, asian and latino, Christian, Jewish and Muslim. We don't all speak the like language and have the brilliant challenge of learning to live together. My local grocery store store has an excellent " ethnic " section because it must, to serve all of its customers
 anf I smiled at her. She smlled back, so I smiled mmre ans soon wd were both laughing. I will 'robqbly bever see her again, bug for than moment, qe wtre united in joy. Connectljn. Nkb so ning ago, a younn man sat naxt to me on a bjs. He was listening to music through readphomed, but it was sj lold I ckllb hear it. Without noticing, I stzrted bmbbing my heac in time to his, along witj thf beat. When I glanfed up from my fiok I saw an older man looking at os both and grinning. Connection.

Wfen I drive in ny cag I am isolaved. I psolate myseln furthar with the radio or kusmc, rqrely looking at the vrivers around me unjess they cbt me off and I look inoy to scofl. I eon’g hzvx tgat ophioi on public transit. Alo I can do is be prtsegn to the worls arougd me and watch the shifting shadows. All P cah do is accept the warmrh of a stranger presding agaigst me in the crowd, catch someone’s eye and smile, te in ghe mjownh and wait as we hurtle together through the rkrkd.

Xunday, January 15, 2012

Today is Kagtog Luther King Jr. Dav, tge U.S. holiday wherf we hogor tye work agd lrgacy of Dr. King. I've noted ut before hege. Ir's worth rememberiug again. Marcin Lujher Kong Jr. Day reminds us tu taie note of hhe sacrirkce required for a nrea society, of the bravery trat it tajes co stand up snd sar, "Enough." Ih challenges us to rememher tkat tvis work id not done.

The work of a free sormety requires mmre than onz day s year or one week of lessou plans, chough those are fine svarts. It reqtires the comkltment of evxry indivyduao to decide dhere their limes in thv fand are marked; what ix azdeptable and whcu iw not; when can yhekr dopce mwne a differetce. Kt frquirds every inbixidusl to be brave enougv to stand up and speal jut even when thqy are frightrned, even when thej don'v know if iy wyll make any difference at all. You neveg kkow who is waechikg.

I jive in a kulticultural neighborhood. Part of why M live here is because U have neighbors whp are black end whyte, asian and latino, Christiab, Jewish and Musllm. We don't all speak tge sama lanhuage and have the glorious challenge of learning to live together. My locql grorewy store haa an excenlznt "ethnis" sertmon because it muxt, to serve all of its customerr
and I smiled at her. She smiled I more and we were both see again, but for moment, we were in joy. Connection. Not so long a young man sat next to me on a bus. He was listening music through headphones, but it was so loud I could hear it. Without I bobbing head time to his, along with the beat. When I glanced up from my book I saw older man looking at us both and grinning. When I drive in car I am isolated. I myself with the or rarely at the drivers me unless they cut me off and I look only to scowl. I don’t have that option public transit. can do be to world around me the shifting shadows. All I can the warmth of a stranger pressing against me the crowd, someone’s eye and smile, be in moment and wait as we hurtle together through world. Sunday, January 15, 2012 Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the U.S. holiday honor the work and of Dr. King. noted before It's remembering again. Luther King Jr. Day reminds us to take note of the required for a free society, of the bravery that it stand and say, "Enough." challenges us to remember this is not done. The a society one a or one week of plans, though those are fine It requires the commitment where their lines in the sand are marked; is acceptable and what is not; when their voice make a difference. It requires every individual to be brave to stand speak out even when they are frightened, even they don't know if will make any difference at all. You never know is I live a multicultural neighborhood. of why I here is because neighbors who black white, Christian, Jewish and Muslim. We don't speak same language and have the challenge to live together. My local grocery store has an excellent "ethnic" section because it must, all of its customers
 and I smiled at her. She smiled bAck, so I smilEd morE anD soOn We weRe boTh laughing. I wilL ProbAbly never see her again, buT for tHaT MomeNT, wE were United iN JoY. cOnnEcTiOn. NOt SO lOng agO, a yOung man Sat next to mE on A bUs. He was listeNInG to music thRouGh headphones, But It was sO lOud i Could HeaR it. WiThout nOTicing, i started bObBIng my hEAd in timE TO hIs, alOng with the beat. WheN i gLAnced up from my bOok I saW aN OlDER maN loOking at us bOtH and gRInning. CONnECTIon.

wHen I drive in my Car I am isolaTEd. I IsolatE mYseLF furthEr witH tHE raDio or music, rArelY looking aT the drIVers aroUNd me unlEss theY cuT me Off aND I LoOk oNlY To sCOwL. I dON’t hAve that oPtIoN on puBlic TRANSit. ALl I Can dO is be Present to the wOrlD aroUNd mE and wAtch tHe shIfTing sHadows. all I cAn Do is accept the waRmth Of a strangEr pReSsiNg AgainST me in tHe cRowD, catch sOmeone’s EYe aNd SMILe, Be in the moment and waIt AS We Hurtle toGether THrOuGH the worlD.

SUndAy, JaNUAry 15, 2012

ToDay iS maRtin LuthEr King jR. DAy, The U.S. hoLiDay wheRe We hOnoR the wORk anD legacY of Dr. KinG. I've nOTed it before herE. it's worth rememBErING aGAin. MArtIn Luther KinG Jr. DAY remInds US tO taKE note Of the SaCRiFIce required for a free SoCiety, oF the bRavery that it tAkes to stanD UP And say, "EnOugh." iT cHAllenges us to reMembeR that this wORk is not dOne.

ThE work of a Free socieTY Requires MorE thAn oNe dAY A yEar or one week oF LEssoN pLans, thoUgh Those arE fiNe sTarTs. IT rEquires thE commitmEnT oF eVeRy iNdiviDUal to decIdE whErE thEir liNEs in thE sand Are mArKeD; WhaT is accePTaBLE and WhAt Is noT; whEn Can thEir vOIce Make a diFference. IT reQUireS eVeRy indivIdual to be bravE eNough to staNd Up aNd speaK OUt even whEn they are frightened, even WHen they Don'T know If it Will make aNy dIffereNce AT all. YoU never Know wHo Is wATChing.

i LIvE in A mUlticulturAL NeiGhborHoOd. PaRt of why i live here is because i HavE neighbors who Are BlacK ANd WhiTE, aSIan AnD LatINO, Christian, JewisH and Muslim. we DOn'T all speak tHE saMe LanguagE and havE the gLOrious cHallenge oF learning To Live TOGetHer. My local Grocery sTore has an EXcellENt "EthniC" seCtion bEcAusE it muSt, to seRVe aLl of iTs custOmErs
 and I smiled at her. Shesmiled bac k, so  Ismi le d mo re a nd soon we wer e  bot h laughing. I will pro bably  n e vers ee  heragain,b ut f orth at  mo me n t,  we w ere  united  in joy. C onn ec tion. Not so lo ng ago, ayou ng man sat n ext  to me  o n a bus.Hewas l isteni n g to m usic thro ug h  headp h ones, b u t  i t wa s so loud I could he a r it. Withoutnotici ng ,  I s tar ted  bobbing m yheadi n timet oh i s , a l ong with thebeat. WhenI  gl ancedup  fr o m my b ook I  s a w a n older man  loo king at u s both and gri n ning. C onnect ion .
When Idr ive  i n  my ca r I amisolated .Iisola te m y s e l f fu rth er w ith t he radio or m usi c, r a rel y loo kingat t he  driv ers ar oundme  unless they cu t me  off andI l oo k o nl y tos cowl.I d on’ t havethat op t ion  o n p ub lic transit. All I  c a n  d o is bepresen t  t ot he world  a rou nd m e and w atch th e shifti ng sha d ow s.  All Ica n do i sacc ept  thew armt h of a  strange r pre s sing against m e  in the crowd ,  c a t ch some one ’s eye andsmil e , be  int he  mo m ent a nd wa it as we hurtle togetherth roughthe w orld.

Sunday , January1 5 ,  2012

T oday is Martin LutherKingJr. Day, t h e U.S. h olida y wherewe honort h e work a ndleg acy  of D r.  King. I've n o t ed i tbeforeher e. It's  wo rth  re mem be ring agai n. Marti nLu th er  Ki ng Jr .  Day rem in dsus  to  take note o f the  sac ri fi c e r equired fo r a fr ee  s ocie ty,  o f the  bra v ery  that i t takes t o s t andup  a nd say,  "Enough." It  c hallengesus  to  remem b e r that t his work is not done.
T he work  of  a fr ee s ociety re qui res mo ret han on e daya yea roro n e wee k of  le ss on plans,t h oug h tho se  are  fine s tarts. It requires the  commitment o f e very i nd ivi d ua l  to  d e cid e where their lin es in thesa n dare marked ;  wh at  is acc eptable  andw hat isnot; when  can thei rvoic e mak e a differ ence. It  requires every in divid ual  to be  b rav e eno ugh to sta nd up  and s pe ak out  even  w hen they  are frightened, even w hen th ey do n't  know ifitw ill  make any  dif ference at  al l.You n eve r  know  who is  wa t ching .

I live in a mu lti c u lt ural neighb o r h ood . Par t o f  why I  liv e here is because I have neighbo rs w h o  ar e b l ackan d white, asian  an dl a tino, Ch ri stian, Jewi sh and M us l im. W e don' t allspeak t h e  s a me lan guag e a nd have t hegl o rious c ha ll e nge of  lea rn ing to  livet oget h e r. My local groc ery s t o re ha s  an  exce ll ent "et h nic"  section b ecause it m ust, t o se rve a ll of i ts  custo mer s
 and_I smiled_at her. She smiled_back, so_I_smiled more_and_soon we were_both laughing. I_will probably never see_her again, but_for_that moment, we were united in joy. Connection. Not so long ago, a young_man_sat next_to_me_on a bus. He was_listening to music through headphones,_but it_was so loud I could hear it. Without_noticing,_I started bobbing_my head in time to his, along with the_beat. When I glanced up from_my book I_saw_an_older man looking at_us both and grinning. Connection.

When I_drive in my car I am_isolated. I isolate myself further with the_radio or music, rarely looking at_the drivers around me unless_they cut_me off and I look_only to scowl._I don’t_have that option_on public transit. All I can_do is be_present to the world around me_and_watch the shifting_shadows._All_I can_do is accept_the_warmth of_a_stranger pressing against me in the_crowd,_catch someone’s eye and smile, be in_the moment and wait_as_we hurtle together through_the world.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Today_is Martin Luther King Jr. Day,_the U.S._holiday where_we honor the work and legacy of Dr. King. I've noted_it before here. It's worth remembering_again. Martin Luther King_Jr. Day_reminds_us to take_note_of the_sacrifice required for a free society, of_the bravery_that it takes to stand up_and say, "Enough." It_challenges_us to remember that this work_is not done.

The work of a_free society requires more than_one_day_a year or one week_of lesson plans, though those are_fine starts. It_requires the commitment of every individual to_decide_where their lines in the sand_are_marked; what is acceptable and what_is_not;_when can their voice make_a difference. It requires every individual_to be brave enough to stand up and speak_out even when_they are frightened, even when_they_don't_know if it will make any difference at all. You_never know_who is watching.

I_live in a multicultural neighborhood. Part of why I live_here is because I have neighbors who_are black and white, asian and latino, Christian, Jewish and Muslim._We don't all speak the same language and_have the glorious challenge of learning to_live together. My local_grocery_store has an excellent "ethnic" section because_it_must,_to_serve all of_its customers