For those of you who attended my mom's funeral last summer you may recall the portion the eulogy my sister and I gave where I spoke about the lesson we'd learned on the act of "showing up" for the people you love.
I am doing my own act of "showing up" this week as I head out to NIU today to volunteer as one of the 550 volunteer counselors they've accumulated to help transition their students back to school tomorrow. Their goal was 300 volunteer counselors. I am so proud of the outpouring of help that has come from my professional community.
"Showing up" can be a really challenging endeavor - especially when you know that there will be pain and fear awaiting you. The doubts and fears and self-preservation thoughts all pour in. I've been dealing with all of these fears and doubts since I volunteered, secretly hoping that maybe they wouldn't call me, but then happy and resolved when they did.
I don't know what these next 2 days are going to be like, but I know that I can listen. I know that sometimes just the presence of someone who is willing to be with you can help you feel safer and not alone. I know that when people need your help - your job is to show up.
I hope that each of you will find a way to show up for someone that you love or for someone who needs it.
Life is about what happens between hearts, make sure the door to yours is open.
