It was a few weeks ago, I was driving with the flow of before-work traffic, sipping my blessedly fragrant coffee out of my travel mug and listening to NPR, while my son counted repeatedly to 100 and my baby threw her toys around. I heard snippets of an interview with Facebook CEO Sheryl Sandberg. Between listening to counting, stopping and going down the highway, and planning for the day ahead, one piece stayed with me: Sandberg’s favorite workplace poster: “What Would You Do If You Weren’t Afraid?”
That got me to thinking. Mary Liz, what WOULD you do if you weren’t afraid? That half-answered and waiting question floats in and out of my head from time to time.
What would you do if you weren’t afraid…
I would stand up for what is right, for what I believe is good and true. I would take action when opportunity arises to make the world a better place.
I would do these things in spite of fear of what others would think, who would disagree, who might think of my beliefs with distaste, or question me. If I were not afraid, I would be a better person, I think.
So I’m going to try to take steps as they come, to do more good with less fear. I’m sure the lesson should be much deeper, the deeds greater, but you have to start somewhere.
So I start here. I support and want to encourage equality among people…we are all human, we all feel love and hate, sadness and joy; we are a mixed up lot and disagree so much because we are all unique. But no matter our circumstance, we are in this together, in flesh and blood, living and breathing. We all have a story, half-hidden, so do not judge; I won’t judge you.
“Be kind. Everyone you meet is in the midst of a great struggle.” -Plato
Marriage Equality, 3×3 pastel on card
Im just now seeing this. Scrolling along…back and forth on FB news feed, I saw this symbol on Stephens post. That lead me to your blog. I love this! I want a t-shirt made with this! ML you should do that! Really, you should get lots of T-shirts with this, your version in pastels, of the now infamous symbol, and sell them! Of course donating some of the proceeds to the struggle for marriage equality. The support that you and Stephen give to me (and Joey) is so appreciated! If this world had more people like you two in it, this place would be a much happier world to live in! I feel much happier just knowing that the future of this planet is in the hands of kids like yours, that have been raised by people like you and Stephen!
Carl, you know how special you are to us, and we will always support you and try our best to work for what is just and good in the world! I think that is a fabulous idea…any bit helps!!! xoxo