In which crises abound…

I try to keep my posts here, and on Facebook and Twitter, as focused on books and writing and my writer's life as possible. I figure that's what people who don't know me personally are most interested, as it's what drew them to these sites in the first place. Yet it seems as though there's a lot of bad news right now. I'm naturally talking about Japan, now ever in our thoughts, though many of my friends – personal and professional – are struggling with their own intimate crises – illnesses, deaths, injuries … all of which deserve much thought, prayer, and helping hands.

I also had a particularly unpleasant run-in with someone on an airplane yesterday, which is not surprising given the trying state of air travel today, and that everyone was a bit cranky due to daylight savings. I only mention it in context with disaster because it would be great if we could all get outside our own heads for a minute, and make an effort to be kind to each another. Life is hard enough. Being judgmental, being selfish, may keep your own head and heart safe, and your world relatively predicable, but you never know what's going on with someone else just by looking. They could be struggling deeply, and even a mere moment of thoughtfulness on your part would help. Besides, you never know when your relatively predicable would is going to be rocked by a personal earthquake. It's nice, when it happens, if someone is there for you.

I personally don't want to feel like this is a 'looking out for number one' world. It's gross, and I refuse to act like that. There's a lot of anger and fear right now and the best way to help alleviate it – other than, yanno, helping – is simply not to contribute to it. So today, on a day when I'm still reeling from an unkindness – reeling too from all the tragedy in the media – I just want to encourage anyone who took time to read this to please tread softly around other people's feelings. It's okay to be tough, and to go out there and make your mark, but it's not okay to do it at the expense of someone else's heart.