In light of recent events, every topic I planned to write about seemed insignificant. I feel powerless to control what’s happening in the world racially, politically, morally, and economically. The only tool at my disposal is influence, so I’m writing this with the hope that I will influence others to do better and be better. I know that as a nation and as a human race we are better than what we see happening all around us.

The very diversity that makes us great as a nation, as a world, and as a human race is dividing us. The antidote to hate is love, and the antidote to fear is understanding. The only way we can get there from here is by kindness and empathy. We don’t know the personal struggles that others are going through. Tensions are high and many people are struggling right now due to racial injustice, nearly three months of isolation, and the effects of this pandemic. Hurt people hurt others. With so much anger, violence and hatred occurring in our society today, it tells me that a lot of people are hurting. What we need more than ever is kindness. Despite our pain and struggles, we always have the ability to choose our response and to be kind.

Destructive conflict happens most often when we focus on our differences instead of our commonalities. We have far more in common than we have differences. We all want the same things: “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” As Dr. Rick Brinkman and Dr. Rick Kirschner authors of “Dealing With People You Can’t Stand” brilliantly stated, “United we stand, divided we can’t stand each other.” My hope is that we can come together as a nation, as a world, and as a human race because our future depends on it. We are far stronger united than we are divided. If this pandemic has taught us anything, it’s how truly connected we all are to each other, and that we are all in this together. We all share the same planet, and we all want a better future.

“Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change.” – Bob Kerrey

“Kindness begins with the understanding that we all struggle.” – Charles Glassman