I’ve been avoiding the news as much as possible.  I find it impossible to watch the death and destruction in Haïti and then see an ad for a luxury car or something.  I was speaking to my mother the other night and she said that my she and my father are overwhelmed with grief and that they have a hard time sleeping. They say they can hear the people crying out for help from under the rubble.

When I first heard about the earthquake, I thought of a childhood friend named Marjorie. Marjorie was my first Haitian friend and I absolutely loved to go to her house. Her mother spoke creole and made the most wonderful food and I was fascinated by how quickly she could braid hair her daughter’s hair.  One day, we met Marjorie and her family as they were headed to church or to a wedding or some sort of grand occasion. Marjorie and her sister were wearing white gloves shiny black patent leather mary-jane shoes and the cutest flowy summer dresses I had ever seen. Their hair had been intricately braided and adorned with at least a dozen gorgeous red silk ribbons. To me, they looked like princesses. I remember coming home and asking my mother to give me some ribbon so I could braid my hair too.  I haven’t heard from Marjorie in years. I hope she is well and that her family in Haïti is safe and sound.

The pictures coming out of Haïti are absolutely heartbreaking. I can only imagine what they are going through and my heart goes out to them and to the rescue workers who are sifting through the rubble. I take the time each day to sit down and send love and positive energy to the world and now specifically to Haïti.  I concentrate my thoughts and visualize a beautiful Island paradise where the children laugh and play. Everything is rebuilt from the ground up and Haïti is thriving.  I hope with all my heart that I can live to see that day.

There has been an outpouring of support from everybody on and off the web. We are coming together and trying to help in any way we can. But why do we wait for something like this to happen before we come together to help our fellow man? This is the question that haunts me at night. Even before this tragedy, the people of Haïti were living in abject poverty. Getting by on 2 dollars a day. Eating mud pies to survive. Makes us wonder why we complain about our own little problems. Doesn’t it? I donate a lot of time in my community and I have to admit that before the holidays, I was starting to feel tired. This event has strengthened my resolve to continue, move forward and do even more.

If you can’t afford to donate to the relief effort, please join me in meditation every morning before you rise. So many people need our help. Let’s take care of each other.

If you enjoyed reading this, please pass it on. Warm thanks.

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