Well, it’s been quite the week. We
ushered in a new administration on Friday, we rallied for rights on Saturday,
and we prayed for friendship on Sunday. I admit I am concerned about our
country’s future. Public discourse is worrisome, facts appear to be on the
endangered list, and arts and culture support is being threatened. Unlike the
line from Hamilton, there seems to be “one
MORE thing to worry about”.
Friendship and faith were Sunday’s
topics, and in my mind, they are arts. So today I want to talk less about
visual art and more about the arts of friendship and compassion, the art of
faith, and the art of taking action. I want to encourage my readers to practice
friendship and compassion to others, especially to those who may not be easy to
treat in a caring manner. The last few months have been replete with
frightening rhetoric, uncaring remarks, and truly disturbing language.
I know from my own experience how
damaging words can be; I understand that cruel talk can lead to cruel actions.
It is absolutely NOT TRUE that words
don’t hurt. They do. And this is why I am pleading to all creative people to practice
the behavioral arts of friendship, kindness, compassion and understanding. Let
it seep into your art, your words, your actions. We need these behavioral arts
desperately. Be creative in showing the platinum content of your character in the
face of negativity.
These are exercises in hope and
determination.
Well said, Marsha. I hope that more people learn to practice the art of empathetic listening this year. We are all going to need each other to win out over the forces that profit from our division!
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