That’s a quote by poet Emily Dickinson, sent to me by a friend who is experiencing grief over the death of a friend. My friend found that thinking about birds helped her, and it was important to find hope through sadness. Dealing with the loss of a friend or family member is something that grabs you tightly, holds you, and is all-consuming. I lost someone very close to me about a year ago, and I feel it daily. I mention this because sometimes we can get so wrapped up in our own struggles or day to day lives that it’s hard to remember that our friends, peers, and instructors may have difficult things happening in their lives as well. We all need to strive to be kind, compassionate, patient, and empathetic. I’ve seen and heard about some pretty nasty statements from members of our community recently—in person and over social media—including everything from bullying, to aggressive comments, and just plain old meanness. Please pause, reflect, and think about what you are saying, and to whom. And if you’ve been on the receiving end, consider forgiving those who were unkind: they may also be struggling. Study hard, stay well.
