Don’t Take It for Granted
The sights are breathtaking…and not in a good way. And the stories are horrifying. And in a place of supposed perfection.
The fires in Hawaii have, unfortunately, captured the worst nightmares of people around the world. Whether it's the incredibly black smoke, the speed of flames racing across the island, or the after shots from drones of entire communities erased from the face of the earth, it seems so foreign considering that most people think of Hawaii as Nirvana not only for vacation but for life. But for a brief period of time, it might have been as close to hell as you'll find.
The story that I'm most saddened by is that entire families were found huddled together in their burned-down homes because the fires move so quickly across the landscape. It makes you wonder about the harshness of life. And in that same moment, like many people, my thoughts drifted to my own family and that I will see them tonight. That we have this weekend to enjoy each other. That they're safe.
It's unfortunate that it takes such tremendous tragedy and devastation for many people to contemplate how fortunate they are with their own life. Too often it seems we have such a negative connotation of the world, of those around us, of those that might not agree with us. And yet, 99-plus percent of our DNA is the same as anyone else on the face of the earth. If we spent less time thinking about the differences, as small as they might be, we might see the similarities much more clearly. And thus, might be able to empathize with others more deeply as well as appreciate the many blessings within one's life.
Ironically, I had a client who was on one of the other islands in Hawaii during this tragedy. They were not affected by this directly but have watched the devastation, and I've received a few updates from them about how sad people are there. Justifiably so. I feel fortunate that my client and friend are only indirectly affected as she witnesses firsthand the effect of a natural disaster.
I don't know about you, but I'm going to spend an extra minute or two thinking about how fortunate I am and then try to figure out if there's some way I can be helpful to those who will not have that opportunity tonight.
