What Matters

When you look at someone, what’s the first thing you notice about them? Such a question is not a stranger to most. I notice their expression, the way they’re looking at me or someone else. Insecurity could be the reason behind what I first pay attention to, nonetheless, I take notice of what people think. So, when I watched the horrific acts that reignited the fire that is the black lives matter movement, what resonated most were the facial expressions not the racial identity or career choice of the people involved. I saw hate and it had no respect of person.

Hate appears in various forms. It is in the one suffocating the life out of an individual and the one burning down the buildings of hardworking people. It’s in the one treating someone else like less than a human-being based on their appearance, preferences, or career choice and it’s in societies current handlings of differences of opinion. All are demonstrations of hate. And how can hate remedy hate? Without more demonstrations of love, all fight for whatever you believe in is futile.

I stand along side social movements that promote a love for All. Every life should matter equally and equity should be ensured, but this is not the case. It is because we fall short on equality and equity standards that the U.S. constantly has its uprising of social movements. Why is fairness so hard for the people of the world to achieve?

“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.” – Dalai Lama

*** It’s been a busy couple of months since my last blog. I started graduate school this past August after nearly five years of enjoying the non-student life, so, adjusting to being a student again has proven to be challenging but I know it’ll be worth obtaining the degree in the end. I have also been pondering my next writing/ publishing venture and trying to make time for writing while keeping up with school assignments. I have been struggling to stay creatively motivated as a result of occurrences surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and the past few months. I’ve been trying to remedy that by pulling back from social media, news, and any other distractions that could potentially disrupt peace of mind. This year has been chaotic and I am so happy that it is almost over.

Til Next Time,

Peace & Love

Alisia Latoi