You’ve Got Mail

My family every year still writes and sends out Christmas cards to friends and family. The whole Shutterfly-type photo collage and a highlight reel of the past year.

Turns out, we’re few and far between for those who actually send these out anymore. It costs money, yes, and I guess there’s texting and email to stay updated, but there’s still something special about opening a mailbox to see a handwritten envelope to you, a return address from someone you maybe haven’t heard from in awhile.It’s almost cliche now to discuss the commercialism and hullbaloo of the holidays. Flash sales and flashing lights and flashy toys you don’t need, oh my! I guess for those looking at seasonal finances, paying for postage and stamps for Christmas cards is probably cut out before buying certain wishlist items and going all-out in the decor.But beyond my family’s own tradition of Christmas cards, on my trip back to college after Thanksgiving, my mom stuck in a box of holiday greeting cards and envelopes. Originally, I was planning on not doing much, as I do every year, just sending out a text to friends on Christmas Day & calling it good.

A little voice inside me though said, “Why not do more?” So I listened. And now I’m in the process of writing and mailing a bunch of handwritten cards to friends expressing my love and gratitude. Just because. The season of giving makes it timely, but really, you don’t realize the difference it makes telling someone in person or writing out your thoughts rather than just texting or messaging.

It’s extra effort obviously, but the joy I’ve gotten from the process has been astounding. I’m excited to hear about how my friends will open their mailboxes to see their name because who doesn’t love receiving mail? And especially with how few families send out Christmas letters and cards, chances are slim individuals do it either.

I’ve grown up always sending thank-you cards. Often it was tedious and I was not happy about doing it, especially around Christmas when there’s many opportunities to give thanks for gifts and support. Now I don’t even bat an eye about writing them…heck, I’d feel weird not doing it. But you don’t realize how much something so little can mean to someone. We don’t expect others to go above and beyond to send a card or letter just to say thank-you when other modes of communication are so much faster. But with speed comes ease, and that message loses a lot of meaning and value. It’s like my thoughts on saying “I love you”: I rarely say it to others, especially family, because I don’t want it to become automatic, just a statement you make to break silence or say goodbye. I want people to know I really mean it. Not that those who do say it often don’t mean it, but those are just my own reservations.I still am the one sending mass texts to my contact list on holidays, but for this season, I want to make sure that what I say, I mean. If I wasn’t a college student on a budget, maybe I’d include a gift in there, but if I were to receive a card from a loved one personally addressed to me, I’d be blown away.

Doing this has also reminded me just how blessed I am. Let’s be real, I grew up not having a lot of friends and always struggling to relate and connect with others. I still get really anxious about if I’m worthy enough, if I have enough people, if I’m doing enough, all on top of social anxiety so often crippling me in basic situations. However, I still filled a post-it note with names of those I’d like to contact. I was appalled. I know so many amazing people who I call my true friends, distant or nearby, who support me and accept me as I am. That’s the greatest gift I could ever ask for.It doesn’t have to be a card or letter. Maybe to you, giving a little extra could mean spending more quality time with others. Calling friends rather than texting them. Exchanging gifts, big or small. We tend to go above and beyond in other aspects of the holidays, but maybe we should do so in simple ways, in the ways not visible driving past your house or sitting under the Christmas tree.

What little acts of kindness could you do for those you love?

Take care, and keep the faith. -Allie

Dreamers

Those in the country under DACA deserve our support. Everybody deserves the rights to opportunity and freedom.

In light of another year since the events of September 11th, this is an ideal time to consider our country’s actions and intentions moving forward.

Last week, it was announced that the DACA program would soon come to an end. For thousands of people, that means that they would no longer be protected under the law as a child of an illegal immigrant.

Why has this decision come about? It originates in a fear that was proven on this day sixteen years ago. That was the moment the country confirmed a reason to bar its borders, barricade itself from outside intruders.

This transcended to every scale, institutional to individual. We became more suspicious of our neighbors, more defensive of our own lifelihoods and worldviews.

Xenophobia. A viral disease that has run rampant throughout the population. An outright avoidance or subtle microaggression toward “others,” people who don’t share our skin color, our beliefs, our country of origin.

Obviously this has been present long before 9/11. Dividing the world into “us” versus “them” makes it easier, to group diverse individuals into generic categories, like a list to check yes, these people are okay, or no, these people are enemies.

Perhaps somebody practices a different religion. Maybe they are trying to go through the process of citizenship or came to America to offer themselves and their families a better life. And yes, some enter the country with violent, harmful ideas in mind. But a few potential risks should not outweigh the vast number of people who want nothing more than peace and community.

We amplify the frequency and severity of terrorist attacks. First off, we usually only highlight those with a majority Caucasian demographic. Rarely do we mention the more prevalent violence occurring right under our noses in areas of poverty, Muslim-predominate areas. Violence for some has become part of everyday life, and yet so many of us turn a blind eye to such news.

Compassion in its truest form knows no borders, no divisions we have created. Our very country was founded on a belief of freedom and courage, except even then we harmed those different from us, people who had been on the continent long before pilgrims settled.

We still hold that double standard of promoting love and equality whilst undermining the predetermined “other.” That other just transforms into whatever we best see fit. Another testament of history repeating itself. When we allow fear and ignorance cloud our vision, we go against our moral standards of treating others with respect.

Where do we go from here? How do we move forward when our own human nature continually holds us back? Certainly it’s not a straightforward answer, an overnight flip of the switch. Again, this decision to end DACA did not generate out of thin air. Its origin is a gradually amplifying fear that has flooded over into outrage.

If emotions can drive us to the extremes of forcing innocent young people from the only home they’ve known and proposing a bordering wall shielding us from our neighbors, then emotions can do the opposite, too. Just as we fuel hate, we can fuel understanding, passion to improve ourselves and others, resounding love for every human on this planet.

I believe it is possible. Not easy, of course, but not out of reach. But it takes a communal movement to make traction. I see it in our reactions to the DACA decision. I see it in our drive to help victims of Hurricanes Irma and Harvey. I see it in little choices we make every day to support each other and simply show respect.

So let’s not look back at this day with fear. Let’s view it instead as a turning point. An opportunity to rise from the ashes and spread our wings with soaring compassion. We all deserve to dream. Let us not extinguish that fire.

Take care, and keep the faith. -Allie

Post-Harvey

Business Insider captured this shot, and it hurts to see people face such destruction knowing that perhaps we could’ve done more to prevent it from happening.

I have yet to discuss anything related to the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Louisiana.

In a way, I feel unqualified to give much insight that somebody else hasn’t already contributed, someone who probably has more knowledge and experience than I do. I’ve never been to that region of the United States, know anybody who does live there, nor have I ever been in a severe storm of that caliber.

What will one person’s words on the internet do in the grand scheme of things? Probably not much. I don’t have a profound, groundbreaking message to share that will make a lasting impact past the limited number of people who might read this.

However, with what I can do, a young person fortunate enough to be states away from the scene, I hope I can at least say a few words that will ease my racing thoughts and maybe reach others thinking the same things.

Even though today is Labor Day, for so many, there is plenty of work to be done, indefinitely. The amount of damage from the passing weeks is record-breaking. Thousands of people needing help, just the realization of that fact is overwhelming. I cannot begin to imagine what Harvey victims are enduring right now. My prayers go out to everyone.

In these moments, many people are bound to think of how there couldn’t possible be a God because who in their right mind would allow such destruction to happen to innocent people? I, however, see this as an opportunity to remember our humanity, our inner urgency to support each other, regardless of our differences. Even for a moment, we forget our jealousies, our hatreds, our biases, in favor of reaching out for a hand to hold. When many are displaced from their houses, we must provide a new means of refuge.

Obviously such talk isn’t getting anything done. Tomorrow we could be back to arguing about Confederate statues and minimizing our perspectives to an individual scale. For so many, lives may be forever changed, scarred by flooding waters. We can observe from afar and think of everyone affected, but more importantly, what can we learn from this?

First off, let’s shift our focus to what matters most. Where are our priorities in life? What causes and activities is our energy going toward? Those of us too far away to provide immediate support to the Gulf Coast, we reside in an awkward situation. What can we actually do, if anything?

Be a helper. We have enough people creating unnecessary violence, speaking critically for senseless problems. I believe there’s something in all of us that’s instinctively seeking to help others. That help might not look like flying in to people stranded on rooftops or passing out food to those in makeshift shelters. There is a purpose for all of us to make a positive impact in the world. Moments we spend dabbling in negative, harmful thoughts and activities are ones we can instead put toward making a difference for others.

Let’s remember what might have contributed to Harvey becoming as violent as it did. Science has shown that climate change and global warming result in more dramatic weather patterns. Harvey is no exception. If there is anything to make the reality of man-made climate change more pertinent, this should be it. Every little action does matter. We can become more conscious of our own choices that simultaneously help others in the future, preventing storms like this from hopefully occurring.

Be gracious for everything. Cliche, but our constant blessings can numb us to the impact they actually have on our lives. We would never think for ourselves losing a roof over our heads, wondering where our next meal might come from, or searching for clean drinking water. All of our luxuries blur together, requiring us to specifically pinpoint what we have. It then drives an incentive to help those who might not have those things available to thank for right now.

I cannot pick up everything right now to volunteer with the Red Cross. I cannot donate all of my money for disaster relief or drive in crowds to do the same. But what I can do is support the countless people and organizations who do have those options at their disposal. I can be more aware of my intentions and priorities in life and encourage others to do the same.

When we lose hope in humanity, we shed our harsh divisions and bear our vulnerabilities to others. Whether Harvey or just in everyday life, we all come across those times when we must admit our own need for help as well as be the one uplifting others who are struggling. That’s truly what life is about: for one person or a thousand, helping make their lives better. We are here to serve each other. It’s a beautiful cycle of empathy, except that we only seem to refer back to it when we’re at our weakest.

To think if we always helped every single person who may or may not cross our paths. If we looked past our religions, skin colors, political parties, and just showed compassion to all. What a world that would be.

Take care, and keep the faith. -Allie