What we have in common

Happy July 4th to my American friends. Right now your country is having some problems that it will overcome in time. But as your country struggles to find balance, one of the many issues it is facing is the fact that many have lost sight of what we have in common, and are focusing on what makes us different.

Have you ever wondered what we have in common with others? I think that if we knew how much we have in common with every single person now living in time and space,  in terms of our deepest hopes and dreams, fears and worries, you'd wonder why some of us fear people who appear to be different than us. Now your definition of the items below may be different than mine but the differences are in the details, not at the core. 

For ourselves, many of us dreams and the hope of being safe, within our own home. 

We hope we can stay (or become fit), and be vibrantly alive. We also may want to be beautiful, rich, and healthy. 

We all hope we have friends and a supportive and caring family where we feel loved and cherished. 

We also hope that our friends, colleagues and family hold us in some respect. 

I believe all of us when we see the joy and smile on a toddlers face, are filled with joy ourselves and when we see children crying we all want to reach out and comfort that child.

What are your deepest hopes and dreams for yourself, for your children? As parents and grandparents, we have the desire to protect our offspring and to create opportunities for them to be successful.  At the very core, of what we hope is that they have a safe, secure and successful, life.

What other dreams and hopes do you have for yourself or your family?

I suggest that as we begin to understand that my dreams and your dreams at their core are not that different, we should think of every single person as a friend or a person who is about to be a friend, just as I do.