YEAR OF ZEN: SPRING: DAY 11

Q: Consider a public figure you don’t like. They and you are one. How is that true?

A: This is a good exercise and practice as there are any number of public figures (often politicians) for whom I often feel ill will and borderline contempt. I need the reminder lodged into my mind that I share the same place with these people, physical and temporal, and the same vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and failings as a human being. This isn’t a pass to excuse bad behavior. Rather, it is a good reminder that we are fundamentally connected, all of us. And there is always an opportunity for growth and improvement. We need to hold that space for each other or we risk giving up the game.