Grief & Loss

Remembering Our Shared Humanity.

“Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside, you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing” (Nye, n.d., lines 20–21).

This month, I have reflected on this line from Naomi Shiahab Nye’s poem “Kindness” and have been reminded of the truth that deep beauty and deep sorrow walk alongside each other. This is true in our individual lives, in our communities, and in our society.

At this time in our history, we are surrounded by information that can stir strong emotions and, at times, lead us toward distrust and separation. Amid the noise, we can lose sight of our shared humanity.

Many are carrying grief, uncertainty, disappointment, fear, or exhaustion. Yet alongside these struggles, remarkable acts of compassion, generosity, and quiet courage exist.

I am deeply aware that compassion rarely develops in the absence of suffering. Rather, it is often born from it. Those who have known loss, heartbreak, vulnerability, or uncertainty are often the very people who offer understanding and grace to others.

In a time when it can be easy to focus on our differences, this poem reminds me of something deeper: our shared humanity. My hope is that it offers you a moment of reflection, comfort, and connection, as it has for me.

I invite you to read the full and beautiful poem at the following link:

“Kindness” by Naomi Shihab Nye

Poetry Foundation: https://poets.org/poem/kindness/embed

As always, thank you for reading. I look forward to connecting through your writing and mine.

Photo:Pixabay

Copyright Protected Material:© 2020 LaDonna Remy MSW, LICSW. All rights reserved. Written content on this blog (Perspective on Trauma) is the property of the author LaDonna Remy, MSW, LICSW. Any unauthorized use or duplication without written permission of the author/ owner of this web log is prohibited. Excerpts or quotes may be shared in the event the author is fully cited with reference and direction to this blog.

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Resources and References:

Nye, N. S. (n.d.). Kindness. Poetry Foundation. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/89897/kindness

National Hotlines:

The National Domestic Violence Helpline: (1-800-799-SAFE 7233)

The National Domestic Violence Chatline.http://www.TheHotLine.org

Treatment Referral Helpline:(1-877-726-4727)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:(1-800-273-8255)

The Hotline. (n.d.).Abuse defined. National Domestic Violence Hotline.https://www.thehotline.org/identify-abuse/

Counseling Resources:

ALMA:https://helloalma.com/

Better Help:https://www.betterhelp.com/

Psychology Today:https://www.psychologytoday.com/us

Talk Space:https://www.talkspac

11 thoughts on “Remembering Our Shared Humanity.”

  2. Thank you for this important reminder, LaDonna. We live in an age where there are deliberate attempts to stir rage, division, polarization and separation. When we take the moment to remind ourselves of our shared humanity, we see we have so much more in common than different. And that’s how communities survive and thrive together.
    Kindness matters now more than ever. 🙏💕

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  3. I think lately I have felt as though I am living in a world of gaps… chasms, even. A void. I have heard people blame the aftermath of the pandemic… or the technology that connects us more easily to machines than to each other. I think perhaps it’s more than that… and that it’s been building for a while.

    It’s a vacuum where the flow of kindness withers, and what fills it is so much simpler and more profound than any of the life mottos and core values and lists and buzzwords we are constantly beeped and pinged with.

    It’s like a hug, like a moment, like when the eyes meet or when something tingling inside you meets or a heavy breath suddenly relaxes with the realisation that another star powered by the same thrill has just swung into orbit… and instead of looking away, the moments connect.

    “This,” they say, hugging something they thought they had forgotten how to find. And they shine for that moment… and perhaps they see the hope that their moment will stretch.

    And nobody reports it and none of the mean things or the harsh things notice or care or miss a beat, and the trade in missiles and guns and fear and exploitation carries on with its usual indifference.

    But suddenly there is a shine flickering where there wasn’t one… tiny and precious and somehow overwhelming in a way that nothing else will ever be. The odds against it are a gazillion to one, and there are no helicopters swooping in with spare flame to keep it flickering.

    But it flickers and tingles… the way it has always done at such moments… when the odds have always been a gazillion to one.

    What else does that? you ask yourself, carrying it with you towards the next encounter. What else does this?

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    1. John, thank you for this beautiful and poetic reflection. It speaks eloquently to the quiet moments of connection that can be overlooked amidst all the noise yet are often the very moments in which we feel most seen.

      Your words, as always, resonate deeply. I appreciate your thoughtfulness and the heart you bring to your writing. Thank you for sharing it

      I continue to be moved by the reflections you offer. They are thoughtful, evocative, and often leave me thinking long after I have finished reading. I hope you will always write and continue to share your work. You have a unique way of capturing things that are difficult to put into words.

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