Common Thread

I have been struggling with what I want this post to be about.

At one point, it was about a rush-hour delay. An unauthorized individual on the tracks led to a stop between stations, a partial power cut, and absolutely nothing else. Not a grumble. Not a flurry of profanities. Just silence and possibly even patience.

Next, it became a love letter to theater that centered around a small moment during the first live musical I’ve seen in over a year and a half. A small unexpected stutter of the turntable sent two actors into action, each steadying the other.

Finally, I wanted to somehow address the events taking place in Afghanistan, which is a lot.

At first glance, public transit, theater, and a humanitarian crisis may not appear to have a clear common thread, but give me a second.

To varying degrees, each one of these situations had something go wrong. Those witnessing the event and those impacted had little to no control over the larger situation.

What they did have control of were their own actions and reactions.

In the first, doing nothing led to calm where there could have been chaos. In the second, reaching out to help kept everyone steady. In the third, well, that remains to be seen.

The right thing looks different for each person and situation. Sometimes we need to help ourselves first. Sometimes we need to reach out and help others.

If you’re looking to offer a helping hand, particularly to those in need in Afghanistan, consider making a donation to UNICEF. Every little bit helps.

Be Kind. Be Brave. Stay Awkward.

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Listen to the Post