To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic.

It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty,

but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness.

The future is an infinite succession of presents,

and to live now as we think human beings should live,

in defiance of all that is bad around us,

is itself a marvelous victory.

~Howard Zinn

how can I meet myself in the middle?

inquiry for today~ and what is gripping you so tightly today?

the middle way is muddy….

Interbeing is the understanding that nothing exists separately from anything else. We are all interconnected. By taking care of another person, you take care of yourself. By taking care of yourself, you take care of the other person. Happiness and safety are not individual matters. If you suffer, I suffer. If you are not safe, I am not safe. There is no way for me to be truly happy if you are suffering. If you can smile, I can smile too. The understanding of interbeing is very important. It helps us to remove the illusion of loneliness, and transform the anger that comes from the feeling of separation.

~Thich Nhat Hanh