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(Photo by Samuel Corum/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

I live in Charlottesville.  I love this town. I've lived here since 2002, and I consider it to be home.  Some of the things I love best are the values of free thinking, free speech(we even have a freedom of speech art-wall on our downtown mall so anyone can write what they are thinking) and education. This town pulses with excitement for learning in all forms.  

The events of the past months have left me feeling queasy, but what transpired this past weekend is truly horrifying. What drives it underneath is beyond what my mind can comprehend. 

After a week of coaching and the privilege of working with huge hearted people who genuinely care and want to do something to help, here are my thoughts. 
 
Love is love.  Hate is hate.  You are either contributing to one or the other.  All the time.  Indifference falls into hate. 

How will you choose love today?   Choose love by saying hello, waving to your neighbor, making comments that acknowledge and see others and let you know that you are there and recognize their humanity.   How are you actively grooming forces of love in the world? Yes, here in Charlottesville, certainly, but I mean everywhere on this planet.  

How can you mobilize love? Choose local merchants of color, Jewish or other targeted religions, or businesses owned by gay proprietors.  Make your way to these people and let them know that you support them, you value their contribution and that you support them in your community. Support them with your dollars and with a hello as you make your purchase. 

One of the ways that I am troubled is many of us are fueling hate- even in the name of love.  

Please, choose love.  Choose love and speak your truth. Choose love and speak out.  In particular, if you are white, if you are not speaking now, please start speaking what you are doing, what you will do to support diversity, tolerance and inclusion in our society.  Here is an amazing post by Layla Saad. Read it if you are inclined, it really made me think about responsibility and what each of us can do.

If each one of us tasks ourself to take up the words of the great Ghandi to "Be the change you wish to see in the world" and we start with small acts with the people we see on a day to day basis, we begin to get stronger and heal.  

Each gesture, each comment that acknowledges/sees/affirms humanity matters.  Save the snark for another time.  Think of each small gesture as a positive addition.  Task yourself to make an impact- anyone who has ever saved a jar of coins knows that if you keep adding to the jar, you get a fair payout when you cash in.  

We are in dark times.  When it is dark, a single candle makes a difference.  Many candles together, and the darkness is gone.  

I've struggled this week with feeling small, that my small contributions don't matter and it has taken me inward.  I awoke this morning with a new view on this.  Light your candle, my friend.  And go stand near others who have lit candles.  Lean to those who aren't lit yet and light them up.  This is going to take all of us, and not any one of us is small, and together we are a force.  


Thank you for reading. 

All my love.

Cecily
The Freedom of Speech Wall on the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville
It's ok to get support if you feel overwhelmed or stuck. Here are a few ways I can offer support. Hit reply, and we can find a time for a 30 minute call together to help you get a plan for moving forward.   Alternately, you can join my colleague, Lisa and I for a retreat in November at the Art of Living Center in North Carolina. Details are here. 
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Hi, I'm Cecily.

I work with emotionally-attuned leaders and professionals who are feeling disconnected because their high-achieving lifestyle is taking its toll on their health, work and relationships. They're trying to do all the right things, but still feel as if the stress is killing them from the inside.


I empower them to reconnect to their inner guidance so they can choose what happens in their lives, engage in fulfilling relationships and feel strong in their bodies again.

Welcome to Full Circle Healing.
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