Last week our family had the tremendous opportunity to take a cruise in the Western Caribbean.  We had stops in Cozumel, Roatan Honduras, Belize, and Costa Maya.  All of these stops had their own memories to cherish and reflect on, but Roatan stood out for me.  Not because of the Deep Sea Fishing Excursion and beautiful coastline, but because of what I saw in the part of the island that few see.  What I saw reminded me of time spent in Brasil as a Rotary Group Study Exchange participant over two decades ago and took me back to the feelings of one of the warmest cultures I’ve ever experienced.  One of the places I truly saw love in action. 

This brings me to a quick take on our perspectives in life and what we choose to see and what we allow ourselves to believe.  Full disclosure, I’ve dramatically reduced the amount of time I spend watching the “news” in the past few years.  I do this because I don’t like the “story” that we are often given.  A story that the world is full of hate, full of greed, full of contempt for each other.  I know sensationalism sells and I understand some of the why behind the stories, but I have a choice not to watch.  Some would say this is placing your head in the sand or choosing to ignore the wrongs happening around us.  I see it as quite the opposite and why I opened this post the way I did.   You see, I know that there is hate, greed, and contempt swirling all around us.  Truth is that if you look close enough you can find it.  But, these is also LOVE!  There is also COMPASSION!  There also GOOD!   That… That is what I look for and what I was reminded of last week. 

We are all just visitors here on this great big ball that orbits the sun.   And, what I was shown in Brasil and what I continue to see now that I’m looking with clear eyes is that deep down we are all Brothers and Sisters that can and should support and love each other whenever we are given the chance.  To that end I would argue that there is more good than bad in this world.  There is more love than hate.   

My challenge to myself and to all of you reading this remains.  If you don’t see more good than bad or more love than hate then BE IT!!!  Be the kindest person in the room. Be the person that everyone knows is willing to help. Have a great weekend everyone!  May you spend it with clear eyes and full hearts!!! And, to my dear friends in Brasil…. Obrigado!!!