Getting it, together

Life gives us so much. There’s enough to eat, clean water, beautiful forests, rich art and culture. We have seven world wonders and we have put mobile buggies on Mars. Every day we have the opportunity to meet extraordinary people and to be deeply moved. Every day we can fall in love and plant a tree.

But sometimes life asks for something back. Life asks you to make a choice, to get up and say yes. Life asks you to take a stand against coldness, arrogance, greed, envy, hunger and cynicism and instead go for everything that makes life possible: abundance, health, gratitude, worthiness, warm-heartedness and love.

If you don’t choose life, life won’t choose you. It will torment you. You’ll get an ulcer. You’ll drive into a tree. Your relationships will fall apart. You’ll hit your children. You’ll start a war in Iraq.

More and more people are sick and tired of battling with themselves, others and life. They are choosing ecological, vegetarian, local and disarmament causes – and, most often, themselves. Choosing yourself has become a trend. And while it would appear to be the most logical first step, there may be a more interesting path open to us. What if, for once, we didn’t choose ourselves but each other? If you choose each other, you also choose yourself, just from a different angle.

It seems to me that this perspective is much more productive than the old “me first” paradigm. On Monday, March 15, I wasn’t the only one thinking this. (I’m never the only one, but sometimes it’s hard to see that.) At noon, thoughts across Europe were on the tragedy in Madrid. For that moment, Europe chose life. Europe took a stand against blind hatred. Traffic ground to a halt. People stood next to their cars. For three whole minutes.

The transition from “me” to “we” had succeeded. It was hanging in the air like the first whiff of spring in February. And when that happens, it’s truly breathtaking.