Imagine

Photo by Candice Seplow on Unsplash

Each one of my newsletters is a way for people to get to know me. A way for people to see inside my world. I talk about my concerns with writing, how my podcast research is going, and my struggles with imposter syndrome. Sometimes it’s a funny incident that happened for the week, maybe a vacation, or how parenting is working for me.

But this week is different. As I write, I find it hard to create because of the heavy sadness I feel after witnessing cruelty online. People I have known all my life are supporting harmful actions, which is difficult to reconcile. Their actions contradict the compassionate values they once expressed, and it’s painful to realize I was unaware of their true views.

I have experience as a death investigator, so I know human cruelty is real. What is now shocking is seeing this violence become part of everyday conversation on social media. Although this is difficult, I believe in justice and am grateful for people working toward truth and accountability. My ongoing hope for justice motivates me to keep going.

I send this out to the world so people know that they are not alone in their feelings. This is a space for comfort and to express your feelings. I am here for you, as an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on. A moment is needed to process this horror before us. A moment to collect my thoughts and to find a way to be part of the solution.

I leave you with lyrics to a song from an individual who advocated for peace, but died in violence.

Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky

Imagine all the people
Living for today, ah

Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too

Imagine all the people
Living life in peace, you

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world, you

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one

I see you, I am here for you.