DanDean's blog

When humanity is worn down by years of violence, even the most optimistic have trouble stemming the tide of despair. We do not see hope through the trees or dreams among the stars. Life becomes a struggle.

Despite our history, violence is not a prerequisite to be human. Life does not need to be in a state of conflict to grow. In life, the beauty, the grace and the good vastly outnumber the bad. You see it every day, from a baby’s first step to an elderly couple holding hands as they stroll through a park. There is beauty here. There is hope here. There are dreams here.

I know it is difficult at times, but if for a moment we as a people could step away from our individual problems, or believing that life isn’t fair, or that you deserve more out of life. If for that moment we could think as a human being. Not as ourselves as that human being, but for the entire human race; one human race as one human being.

For that moment, as humanity stands as one, we look at the world about us to take in its beauty. Take time to feel very fortunate to be alive. We feel every fiber of our being work as one. We know that without this oneness, without this coordination of all our parts, we could not stand here today. We could not step into peace.

The beginning is here and I am its creator! It's a powerful phrase, which I hold close to my heart. It reminds me that no matter how many times I mess up my life, there is always a place that I can start again.
The beginning is here and we are its creators!  A phrase I say every day. For me, it gives hope for the future; hope for humanity. It reminds me that each and every day there are positive steps that can be taken to make the world a better place.

I will tell you up front that I am not the sharpest tool in the shed and that I need to be knocked upside the head with a hammer to change things that I know are bad for me. I look at life with disgruntled optimism and still believe that humanity will find the passion to live life to our potential. Crazy, I know.

I see all faces of humanity throughout the world’s religions, cultures, nations and colors as one human race. We are a mixed breed mutt, but a beautiful mutt nevertheless. I know, I know, more craziness.

In our lives we are given opportunities to mend what is broken but sometimes the hardest thing to mend is when you broke yourself. Over the years, more times that I would like to admit, I have picked myself up one piece at a time from a million pieces that have lain scattered across the floor. Each time I have lost bits and pieces of me. Some are worth loosing but some I can never replace. I have done my best to put myself back together but in my mind I am still broken. Glue can only do so much.

Sometimes through life’s deepest despair, hope can stir and a people worn down by years of hardship can rise together to take the steps toward recovery.

Sometimes when you least expect it, you find peace. It could be the sway of tree branches on a blustery day; the textures of billowing clouds as they get pushed across the sky; the wag of a dog’s tail; a friendly smile; a good deed done; the twinkle in someone’s eyes. It is a moment when the troubles of the day take a back seat for awhile and you just know that life is good, despite all the hardships in the world. Life is full of moments such as these and they are there for us if we choose to see them; to experience them; to make them a vital part of our life.