Saving My Humanity

Holding on to what makes me human

Journal: 23 October, 2024, morning.

Way back in 2016 (seems a lifetime ago, doesn’t it, that we’ve been enduring this national nightmare of a hostile takeover of our national mood by a perfectly dreadful man) a friend shared this prayer, this beseeching cry to hold on to what makes us compassionately human. It seems like forever, and I’m still trying, with all my heart.

“Evening Prayer (2016)

Please let me never lose my humanity.

Please let me never lose my empathy.

Please let me never lose my open mind.

Please let me never lose my patched-up heart.

Please let me never lose my priorities.

Please let me never lose my patience.

Please let me never lose my perspective.

Please let me never lose my compassion.

Please let me never lose my integrity.

Please let me never lose my humor.

Please let me never lose my creativity.

Please let me never lose my humanity.

And when I do, please let it be brief

and please bring them back one by one

as the ocean brings stones and sea glass

to our searching hands

and empty pockets.”

I’ve left Facebook, temporarily at least, where I normally share these writings. There’s always a tipping point, right? One thing, or one day’s worth of things, that just is ENOUGH. And you’re done. At least for the moment. The ugliness displayed is horrifying, and hurts the soul. I just cannot bear it. So I’m stepping away.

Please feel free to borrow this prayer if you need it.

#journalingalife