October 6--S-T-R-E-T-C-H

You will learn a lot about yourself if you stretch in the direction of goodness, of bigness, of kindness, of forgiveness, of emotional bravery.  --Cheryl Strayed 

    I started reading an opinion article a couple days ago addressing the idea that Americans in general are getting meaner. The topic frustrated me so much I stopped reading. Are we getting meaner? Is the thought that we are getting meaner causing us to be meaner?!?! We had President Trump for four years, a man who champions meanness, so what did we expect?!?! 

    I've experienced several instances of meanness over the last few weeks, and in no case was the nastiness appropriate or necessary. Then again, is meanness ever appropriate or necessary?!?!? I believe the meanness trend is reversible. Let's "stretch in the direction of goodness, of bigness, of kindness, of forgiveness, of emotional bravery," and learn to love ourselves and ALL our neighbors (i.e., everyone on the planet). 

        Leta

A neighbor's street-side turtle collection