I’m here today because of a question it’s a question that occurred to me
it’s a question that occurred to me
it’s a question that occurred to me quite a long time ago it’s a question
quite a long time ago it’s a question
quite a long time ago it’s a question that I want to share with you hoping
that I want to share with you hoping
that I want to share with you hoping that it will embed itself in your mind
that it will embed itself in your mind
that it will embed itself in your mind the way it has mine this is a question
the way it has mine this is a question
the way it has mine this is a question that has caused me to really look into
that has caused me to really look into
that has caused me to really look into the way I interact with people and it’s
the way I interact with people and it’s
the way I interact with people and it’s made me a better person
made me a better person
made me a better person I had a 25 year radio career and I was a
I had a 25 year radio career and I was a
I had a 25 year radio career and I was a news reporter and a sports announcer and
news reporter and a sports announcer and
news reporter and a sports announcer and when you’re in that role in a community
when you’re in that role in a community
when you’re in that role in a community you have a front-row seat to all the
you have a front-row seat to all the
you have a front-row seat to all the good and bad things that happen I
good and bad things that happen I
good and bad things that happen I remember covering fire that struck a
remember covering fire that struck a
remember covering fire that struck a family about a week before Christmas and
family about a week before Christmas and
family about a week before Christmas and wiped out everything they owned they
wiped out everything they owned they
wiped out everything they owned they were okay but they had nothing and we
were okay but they had nothing and we
were okay but they had nothing and we turned the radio station Lobby into a
turned the radio station Lobby into a
turned the radio station Lobby into a storage facility for all the donations
storage facility for all the donations
storage facility for all the donations that came in from people that were just
that came in from people that were just
that came in from people that were just reaching out to strangers they were
reaching out to strangers they were
reaching out to strangers they were asking nothing in return but utensils
asking nothing in return but utensils
asking nothing in return but utensils and pots and pans and clothes and toys
and pots and pans and clothes and toys
and pots and pans and clothes and toys and all the things that you would need
and all the things that you would need
and all the things that you would need just started to stack up there in the
just started to stack up there in the
just started to stack up there in the lobby it was a beautiful reaction from
lobby it was a beautiful reaction from
lobby it was a beautiful reaction from the community I remember a key person in
the community I remember a key person in
the community I remember a key person in our high school who suffered from cancer
our high school who suffered from cancer
our high school who suffered from cancer and his diagnosis was not good and we
and his diagnosis was not good and we
and his diagnosis was not good and we shaved our heads and raised a whole
shaved our heads and raised a whole
shaved our heads and raised a whole bunch of money in his name in order to
bunch of money in his name in order to
bunch of money in his name in order to just sort of hug he and his to be widow
just sort of hug he and his to be widow
just sort of hug he and his to be widow to let them know one way or another
to let them know one way or another
to let them know one way or another everything was going to be okay and I
everything was going to be okay and I
everything was going to be okay and I remember talking with family members of
remember talking with family members of
remember talking with family members of a soldier who was killed in Iraq the
a soldier who was killed in Iraq the
a soldier who was killed in Iraq the wife and children of that man not
wife and children of that man not
wife and children of that man not knowing what the future was going to be
knowing what the future was going to be
knowing what the future was going to be like and how devastating that was and
like and how devastating that was and
like and how devastating that was and yet the road between the chapel and the
yet the road between the chapel and the
yet the road between the chapel and the VA cemetery was lined with thousands of
VA cemetery was lined with thousands of
VA cemetery was lined with thousands of people with flags and signs and messages
people with flags and signs and messages
people with flags and signs and messages of hope and love to a complete stranger
of hope and love to a complete stranger
of hope and love to a complete stranger as that hearse rolled by and how much
as that hearse rolled by and how much
as that hearse rolled by and how much that meant
that meant
that meant to the family the pattern was
to the family the pattern was
to the family the pattern was devastating tragedy followed by
devastating tragedy followed by
devastating tragedy followed by incredible togetherness over and over
incredible togetherness over and over
incredible togetherness over and over again and I remember the first time this
again and I remember the first time this
again and I remember the first time this question occurred to me and I asked a
question occurred to me and I asked a
question occurred to me and I asked a friend of mine do you suppose it’s
friend of mine do you suppose it’s
friend of mine do you suppose it’s possible we could skip the tragedy and
possible we could skip the tragedy and
possible we could skip the tragedy and just live in that togetherness is it
just live in that togetherness is it
just live in that togetherness is it possible for us to have togetherness
possible for us to have togetherness
possible for us to have togetherness without tragedy and he gave me a sort of
without tragedy and he gave me a sort of
without tragedy and he gave me a sort of strange look and from what I remember
strange look and from what I remember
strange look and from what I remember left the room and it kind of left the
left the room and it kind of left the
left the room and it kind of left the question hanging in the air and it was
question hanging in the air and it was
question hanging in the air and it was sort of up to me to decide how to answer
sort of up to me to decide how to answer
sort of up to me to decide how to answer that question and I’ve been trying to do
that question and I’ve been trying to do
that question and I’ve been trying to do that ever since that was 15 years ago
that ever since that was 15 years ago
that ever since that was 15 years ago and at first I tried to answer that
and at first I tried to answer that
and at first I tried to answer that question thinking about global tragedy
question thinking about global tragedy
question thinking about global tragedy and how difficult it is when something
and how difficult it is when something
and how difficult it is when something horrible happens across the globe and it
horrible happens across the globe and it
horrible happens across the globe and it spreads like in in seconds especially in
spreads like in in seconds especially in
spreads like in in seconds especially in our social media-driven world and I was
our social media-driven world and I was
our social media-driven world and I was looking for a way for us to respond with
looking for a way for us to respond with
looking for a way for us to respond with an event or something we could do that
an event or something we could do that
an event or something we could do that would provide an equal and opposite
would provide an equal and opposite
would provide an equal and opposite balance to this horrible thing that
balance to this horrible thing that
balance to this horrible thing that happened and I had to quickly decide
happened and I had to quickly decide
happened and I had to quickly decide there just was nothing that could
there just was nothing that could
there just was nothing that could provide that kind of counterbalance to
provide that kind of counterbalance to
provide that kind of counterbalance to that tragic event so I had to settle in
that tragic event so I had to settle in
that tragic event so I had to settle in my mind on the fact that togetherness
my mind on the fact that togetherness
my mind on the fact that togetherness without tragedy happens in small doses
without tragedy happens in small doses
without tragedy happens in small doses like birthdays and anniversaries and
like birthdays and anniversaries and
like birthdays and anniversaries and weddings and babies being born and
weddings and babies being born and
weddings and babies being born and graduation ceremonies and for some state
graduation ceremonies and for some state
graduation ceremonies and for some state championships national championships
championships national championships
championships national championships world championships but that was always
world championships but that was always
world championships but that was always involving a very small group of people
involving a very small group of people
involving a very small group of people and it was short-lived usually and in
and it was short-lived usually and in
and it was short-lived usually and in some cases if you’re not a sports fan
some cases if you’re not a sports fan
some cases if you’re not a sports fan you couldn’t enjoy and be part of that
you couldn’t enjoy and be part of that
you couldn’t enjoy and be part of that community so although it wasn’t a
community so although it wasn’t a
community so although it wasn’t a perfect answer I felt like it was a
perfect answer I felt like it was a
perfect answer I felt like it was a partial answer to this question about
partial answer to this question about
partial answer to this question about togetherness without togetherness
togetherness without togetherness
togetherness without togetherness without tragedy but that question lay
without tragedy but that question lay
without tragedy but that question lay dormant for quite a long time because I
dormant for quite a long time because I
dormant for quite a long time because I felt like I couldn’t really fully answer
felt like I couldn’t really fully answer
felt like I couldn’t really fully answer it back then and it lay dormant until
it back then and it lay dormant until
it back then and it lay dormant until October 1st 2015
October 1st 2015
October 1st 2015 of course that was a day when I’m quoc
of course that was a day when I’m quoc
of course that was a day when I’m quoc Community College and our community was
Community College and our community was
Community College and our community was knocked to its knees by a horrible
knocked to its knees by a horrible
knocked to its knees by a horrible shooting tragedy that affected hundreds
shooting tragedy that affected hundreds
shooting tragedy that affected hundreds if not thousands of people in this
if not thousands of people in this
if not thousands of people in this community and for a lot of us the
community and for a lot of us the
community and for a lot of us the recovery still continues it may continue
recovery still continues it may continue
recovery still continues it may continue for many many
for many many
for many many years and people here tend to have a UCC
years and people here tend to have a UCC
years and people here tend to have a UCC recovery story my UCC recovery story
recovery story my UCC recovery story
recovery story my UCC recovery story centers around an organization called
centers around an organization called
centers around an organization called UCC strong that was the name given to a
UCC strong that was the name given to a
UCC strong that was the name given to a fund that 1.3 million dollars came in –
fund that 1.3 million dollars came in –
fund that 1.3 million dollars came in – from complete strangers around the world
from complete strangers around the world
from complete strangers around the world trying to do something to help the
trying to do something to help the
trying to do something to help the victims of that shooting and we had to
victims of that shooting and we had to
victims of that shooting and we had to assemble the United Way had to assemble
assemble the United Way had to assemble
assemble the United Way had to assemble and I helped them a group of about 15
and I helped them a group of about 15
and I helped them a group of about 15 people to manage this fund because while
people to manage this fund because while
people to manage this fund because while it’s easy to give money away it’s hard
it’s easy to give money away it’s hard
it’s easy to give money away it’s hard to do it responsibly and under the
to do it responsibly and under the
to do it responsibly and under the potential scrutiny of all kinds of
potential scrutiny of all kinds of
potential scrutiny of all kinds of people who would be more than happy to
people who would be more than happy to
people who would be more than happy to sue us these 15 people dedicated
sue us these 15 people dedicated
sue us these 15 people dedicated themselves to the cause of distributing
themselves to the cause of distributing
themselves to the cause of distributing that money to the victims and I remember
that money to the victims and I remember
that money to the victims and I remember the first time that group of people was
the first time that group of people was
the first time that group of people was together in the room for the first time
together in the room for the first time
together in the room for the first time and I was just thinking how is this
and I was just thinking how is this
and I was just thinking how is this gonna work we have people from such
gonna work we have people from such
gonna work we have people from such different points of view you had
different points of view you had
different points of view you had philanthropists and and wealthy business
philanthropists and and wealthy business
philanthropists and and wealthy business people in the same room with students
people in the same room with students
people in the same room with students you had a mental health professional and
you had a mental health professional and
you had a mental health professional and a pastor you had people that just
a pastor you had people that just
a pastor you had people that just normally don’t associate with one
normally don’t associate with one
normally don’t associate with one another labels just all around the room
another labels just all around the room
another labels just all around the room and it was amazing to watch that group
and it was amazing to watch that group
and it was amazing to watch that group of people put those labels down and
of people put those labels down and
of people put those labels down and focus on the goal and distribute that
focus on the goal and distribute that
focus on the goal and distribute that money and do it well the way we were
money and do it well the way we were
money and do it well the way we were hoping and they did it because there was
hoping and they did it because there was
hoping and they did it because there was something greater than them at stake
something greater than them at stake
something greater than them at stake they didn’t ask anything in return they
they didn’t ask anything in return they
they didn’t ask anything in return they just did the job and they did it very
just did the job and they did it very
just did the job and they did it very very well they put those labels aside if
very well they put those labels aside if
very well they put those labels aside if you think about it there was also young
you think about it there was also young
you think about it there was also young and old and and liberal and conservative
and old and and liberal and conservative
and old and and liberal and conservative gay and straight tattooed and unta tude
gay and straight tattooed and unta tude
gay and straight tattooed and unta tude plenty of reasons for people to not get
plenty of reasons for people to not get
plenty of reasons for people to not get along and yet they did such an amazing
along and yet they did such an amazing
along and yet they did such an amazing job and it was an excellent example of
job and it was an excellent example of
job and it was an excellent example of togetherness and the sort of thing that
togetherness and the sort of thing that
togetherness and the sort of thing that I think about when I thought about
I think about when I thought about
I think about when I thought about togetherness of course the catalyst for
togetherness of course the catalyst for
togetherness of course the catalyst for that was tragedy I want to do an
that was tragedy I want to do an
that was tragedy I want to do an experiment with you on labels just look
experiment with you on labels just look
experiment with you on labels just look at me I’m a white middle-aged middle
at me I’m a white middle-aged middle
at me I’m a white middle-aged middle class educated straight married
class educated straight married
class educated straight married Christian conservative Republican
Christian conservative Republican
Christian conservative Republican American man and I just divided the room
American man and I just divided the room
American man and I just divided the room some of you will say that’s the kind of
some of you will say that’s the kind of
some of you will say that’s the kind of guy I’d like to get to know but for some
guy I’d like to get to know but for some
guy I’d like to get to know but for some other people you wouldn’t want to even
other people you wouldn’t want to even
other people you wouldn’t want to even talk to me because of the labels I just
talk to me because of the labels I just
talk to me because of the labels I just laid out there but you know what it goes
laid out there but you know what it goes
laid out there but you know what it goes further than that for some people the
further than that for some people the
further than that for some people the labels I just laid out create fear and
labels I just laid out create fear and
labels I just laid out create fear and when I think about those labels I have
when I think about those labels I have
when I think about those labels I have to wonder why do we pay so much
to wonder why do we pay so much
to wonder why do we pay so much attention to labels is it because we
attention to labels is it because we
attention to labels is it because we just really want to have relationship
just really want to have relationship
just really want to have relationship with and trust the people that are just
with and trust the people that are just
with and trust the people that are just like us who do you see only as labels or
like us who do you see only as labels or
like us who do you see only as labels or who do you not see because you’ve put a
who do you not see because you’ve put a
who do you not see because you’ve put a label on them following my UCC
label on them following my UCC
label on them following my UCC experience I was able to go speak to
experience I was able to go speak to
experience I was able to go speak to some leaders and other communities and
some leaders and other communities and
some leaders and other communities and they would ask me what could we learn
they would ask me what could we learn
they would ask me what could we learn from what you went through in roseburg
from what you went through in roseburg
from what you went through in roseburg and I started talking about leaders and
and I started talking about leaders and
and I started talking about leaders and the role leaders would play in recovery
the role leaders would play in recovery
the role leaders would play in recovery if a tragedy and eventually one will hit
if a tragedy and eventually one will hit
if a tragedy and eventually one will hit a tragedy hit that community what what
a tragedy hit that community what what
a tragedy hit that community what what should leaders do and I would always
should leaders do and I would always
should leaders do and I would always tell them I think the thing you should
tell them I think the thing you should
tell them I think the thing you should do is think about the people who would
do is think about the people who would
do is think about the people who would be around the table to help your
be around the table to help your
be around the table to help your community recover if something were to
community recover if something were to
community recover if something were to happen
happen
happen think about the other leaders that would
think about the other leaders that would
think about the other leaders that would be there you probably know some of them
be there you probably know some of them
be there you probably know some of them but you may only know of others you
but you may only know of others you
but you may only know of others you should reach out to those other leaders
should reach out to those other leaders
should reach out to those other leaders and get to know them a little bit before
and get to know them a little bit before
and get to know them a little bit before you’re forced to find out if you can
you’re forced to find out if you can
you’re forced to find out if you can trust them or like them under the
trust them or like them under the
trust them or like them under the pressure of recovery and it really
pressure of recovery and it really
pressure of recovery and it really seemed to resound with people they
seemed to resound with people they
seemed to resound with people they really like that idea and we came up
really like that idea and we came up
really like that idea and we came up with the phrase of togetherness before
with the phrase of togetherness before
with the phrase of togetherness before tragedy which awakened that whole
tragedy which awakened that whole
tragedy which awakened that whole discussion about togetherness without
discussion about togetherness without
discussion about togetherness without tragedy but there was also a incomplete
tragedy but there was also a incomplete
tragedy but there was also a incomplete part to this whole thing as well because
part to this whole thing as well because
part to this whole thing as well because if only leaders are able to help us get
if only leaders are able to help us get
if only leaders are able to help us get to togetherness without tragedy we’re
to togetherness without tragedy we’re
to togetherness without tragedy we’re missing out on a whole nother section of
missing out on a whole nother section of
missing out on a whole nother section of people we need everyone involved in
people we need everyone involved in
people we need everyone involved in order for togetherness without tragedy
order for togetherness without tragedy
order for togetherness without tragedy to become a reality and so the idea lay
to become a reality and so the idea lay
to become a reality and so the idea lay dormant again for a while until I found
dormant again for a while until I found
dormant again for a while until I found the kindness Diaries one day I was
the kindness Diaries one day I was
the kindness Diaries one day I was flipping through looking for something
flipping through looking for something
flipping through looking for something to watch on Netflix and I came across
to watch on Netflix and I came across
to watch on Netflix and I came across the first episode of the kindness
the first episode of the kindness
the first episode of the kindness Diaries and I was fascinated the kind of
Diaries and I was fascinated the kind of
Diaries and I was fascinated the kind of Diaries depict the effort of a
Diaries depict the effort of a
Diaries depict the effort of a stockbroker from Britain who happened to
stockbroker from Britain who happened to
stockbroker from Britain who happened to live in Los Angeles who got tired of
live in Los Angeles who got tired of
live in Los Angeles who got tired of being a stockbroker and his idea was
being a stockbroker and his idea was
being a stockbroker and his idea was even though the world looks like a very
even though the world looks like a very
even though the world looks like a very bad place from a distance there still is
bad place from a distance there still is
bad place from a distance there still is kindness in this world he just wanted to
kindness in this world he just wanted to
kindness in this world he just wanted to go find it and so he conducted an
go find it and so he conducted an
go find it and so he conducted an amazing experiment which is documented
amazing experiment which is documented
amazing experiment which is documented in this series what he did was he got
in this series what he did was he got
in this series what he did was he got into a canary-yellow motorcycle with a
into a canary-yellow motorcycle with a
into a canary-yellow motorcycle with a sidecar and began driving across the
sidecar and began driving across the
sidecar and began driving across the United States with a goal of going
United States with a goal of going
United States with a goal of going around the world on nothing but the
around the world on nothing but the
around the world on nothing but the kindness of strangers he had no money
kindness of strangers he had no money
kindness of strangers he had no money for fuel food or lodging he was going to
for fuel food or lodging he was going to
for fuel food or lodging he was going to rely completely on people now what he
rely completely on people now what he
rely completely on people now what he did have was the ability to gift people
did have was the ability to gift people
did have was the ability to gift people with a life-changing gift that would
with a life-changing gift that would
with a life-changing gift that would help them change their lives because of
help them change their lives because of
help them change their lives because of the incredible kindness that they showed
the incredible kindness that they showed
the incredible kindness that they showed of course they didn’t know that’s kind
of course they didn’t know that’s kind
of course they didn’t know that’s kind of an undercover boss thing so Leon took
of an undercover boss thing so Leon took
of an undercover boss thing so Leon took off headed east and one of the first
off headed east and one of the first
off headed east and one of the first episodes he comes across a man named
episodes he comes across a man named
episodes he comes across a man named Richard who lives in Pittsburgh and it’s
Richard who lives in Pittsburgh and it’s
Richard who lives in Pittsburgh and it’s getting late and getting dark and Leon
getting late and getting dark and Leon
getting late and getting dark and Leon needs a place to stay and he runs into
needs a place to stay and he runs into
needs a place to stay and he runs into Richard and he asked Richard if he could
Richard and he asked Richard if he could
Richard and he asked Richard if he could stay with him for the night and Richard
stay with him for the night and Richard
stay with him for the night and Richard said sure absolutely but I’m homeless
said sure absolutely but I’m homeless
said sure absolutely but I’m homeless and Leon said that’s fine so Leon spent
and Leon said that’s fine so Leon spent
and Leon said that’s fine so Leon spent the night in the doorway the Richard
the night in the doorway the Richard
the night in the doorway the Richard lives in and Richard gave Leon his mat
lives in and Richard gave Leon his mat
lives in and Richard gave Leon his mat and his blankets and some food and they
and his blankets and some food and they
and his blankets and some food and they laid there talking all night long and
laid there talking all night long and
laid there talking all night long and Richard told his story before he became
Richard told his story before he became
Richard told his story before he became homeless he had a dream of being a chef
homeless he had a dream of being a chef
homeless he had a dream of being a chef but he had dropped out of culinary
but he had dropped out of culinary
but he had dropped out of culinary school as his path to homelessness in
school as his path to homelessness in
school as his path to homelessness in the morning Richard gave Leon three
the morning Richard gave Leon three
the morning Richard gave Leon three pairs of underwear and more food for his
pairs of underwear and more food for his
pairs of underwear and more food for his trip and Leon told Richard that he was
trip and Leon told Richard that he was
trip and Leon told Richard that he was going to pay for Richard to go back to
going to pay for Richard to go back to
going to pay for Richard to go back to school so he could complete his dream of
school so he could complete his dream of
school so he could complete his dream of being a chef and he did 15 episodes of
being a chef and he did 15 episodes of
being a chef and he did 15 episodes of that inspirational get the Kleenex ready
that inspirational get the Kleenex ready
that inspirational get the Kleenex ready it’s awesome well I was so inspired I
it’s awesome well I was so inspired I
it’s awesome well I was so inspired I reached out to Leon through his Facebook
reached out to Leon through his Facebook
reached out to Leon through his Facebook page and website and I was able actually
page and website and I was able actually
page and website and I was able actually to exchange some emails with him and
to exchange some emails with him and
to exchange some emails with him and eventually he and I Skyped for about a
eventually he and I Skyped for about a
eventually he and I Skyped for about a half hour one day while he was in New
half hour one day while he was in New
half hour one day while he was in New York
York
York I told him about togetherness without
I told him about togetherness without
I told him about togetherness without tragedy I asked him if he thought it had
tragedy I asked him if he thought it had
tragedy I asked him if he thought it had legs and could I do something on the
legs and could I do something on the
legs and could I do something on the same level as the kindness Diaries and
same level as the kindness Diaries and
same level as the kindness Diaries and he encouraged me to do so his number one
he encouraged me to do so his number one
he encouraged me to do so his number one piece of advice to me was be the change
piece of advice to me was be the change
piece of advice to me was be the change be the change I wanted to see and we’ve
be the change I wanted to see and we’ve
be the change I wanted to see and we’ve all heard that night really took that to
all heard that night really took that to
all heard that night really took that to heart now I have been the change a
heart now I have been the change a
heart now I have been the change a little bit on this I was part of a group
little bit on this I was part of a group
little bit on this I was part of a group of people that did a thing called adopt
of people that did a thing called adopt
of people that did a thing called adopt the block here in Roseburg for a couple
the block here in Roseburg for a couple
the block here in Roseburg for a couple of years we went up and down Mill Street
of years we went up and down Mill Street
of years we went up and down Mill Street with rakes and shovels and weed whackers
with rakes and shovels and weed whackers
with rakes and shovels and weed whackers and lawn mowers and garbage bags just
and lawn mowers and garbage bags just
and lawn mowers and garbage bags just knocking on doors and asking people if
knocking on doors and asking people if
knocking on doors and asking people if there were odd jobs that we could do for
there were odd jobs that we could do for
there were odd jobs that we could do for no pay we just wanted to do something to
no pay we just wanted to do something to
no pay we just wanted to do something to help the neighborhood out mostly to get
help the neighborhood out mostly to get
help the neighborhood out mostly to get to know people in case there was
to know people in case there was
to know people in case there was something bad that happened because we
something bad that happened because we
something bad that happened because we thought maybe we could help him out
thought maybe we could help him out
thought maybe we could help him out amazing things happen during that time
amazing things happen during that time
amazing things happen during that time there’s two stories to share one there
there’s two stories to share one there
there’s two stories to share one there was a house we knocked on the door
was a house we knocked on the door
was a house we knocked on the door nobody would ever come to the door we
nobody would ever come to the door we
nobody would ever come to the door we could hear a TV but nobody would ever
could hear a TV but nobody would ever
could hear a TV but nobody would ever come to the door months went by the
come to the door months went by the
come to the door months went by the neighbor came to us one day and said
neighbor came to us one day and said
neighbor came to us one day and said that fella fell down and broke his hip
that fella fell down and broke his hip
that fella fell down and broke his hip in his back and he’s coming back in a
in his back and he’s coming back in a
in his back and he’s coming back in a wheelchair and there is no ramp you
wheelchair and there is no ramp you
wheelchair and there is no ramp you can’t get into his house so we built a
can’t get into his house so we built a
can’t get into his house so we built a ramp for him we met a woman who was
ramp for him we met a woman who was
ramp for him we met a woman who was raising her grandson because his father
raising her grandson because his father
raising her grandson because his father had bailed out on drugs she was sleeping
had bailed out on drugs she was sleeping
had bailed out on drugs she was sleeping on the floor of her house she had died
on the floor of her house she had died
on the floor of her house she had died diverticulitis so bad she was headed to
diverticulitis so bad she was headed to
diverticulitis so bad she was headed to surgery she was miserable she gave the
surgery she was miserable she gave the
surgery she was miserable she gave the only mattress in the house to her
only mattress in the house to her
only mattress in the house to her eight-year-old grandson and when we
eight-year-old grandson and when we
eight-year-old grandson and when we heard that story we made sure she had a
heard that story we made sure she had a
heard that story we made sure she had a twin mattress and you would have thought
twin mattress and you would have thought
twin mattress and you would have thought we gave her a new house we didn’t ask
we gave her a new house we didn’t ask
we gave her a new house we didn’t ask for anything in return it was simply a
for anything in return it was simply a
for anything in return it was simply a gesture that needed to be done so I
gesture that needed to be done so I
gesture that needed to be done so I understand be the change but as I
understand be the change but as I
understand be the change but as I thought about it more actually what this
thought about it more actually what this
thought about it more actually what this became was be the catalyst be the
became was be the catalyst be the
became was be the catalyst be the catalyst began to ring in my head trying
catalyst began to ring in my head trying
catalyst began to ring in my head trying to answer that question of togetherness
to answer that question of togetherness
to answer that question of togetherness without tragedy be the catalyst well in
without tragedy be the catalyst well in
without tragedy be the catalyst well in scientific terms a catalyst is an
scientific terms a catalyst is an
scientific terms a catalyst is an element that’s introduced to an
element that’s introduced to an
element that’s introduced to an environment that changes that
environment that changes that
environment that changes that environment well let’s talk about the
environment well let’s talk about the
environment well let’s talk about the environment we want to change we live in
environment we want to change we live in
environment we want to change we live in an isolated anonymous angry label
an isolated anonymous angry label
an isolated anonymous angry label throwing argumentative
throwing argumentative
throwing argumentative divided in gree world right now just
divided in gree world right now just
divided in gree world right now just begging for something to change begging
begging for something to change begging
begging for something to change begging for something to believe in begging to
for something to believe in begging to
for something to believe in begging to be part of something that we can all be
be part of something that we can all be
be part of something that we can all be a part of something better than what we
a part of something better than what we
a part of something better than what we have right now and if we choose not to
have right now and if we choose not to
have right now and if we choose not to make any changes we’re just going to go
make any changes we’re just going to go
make any changes we’re just going to go ahead and continue to add to all of
ahead and continue to add to all of
ahead and continue to add to all of those bad things in fact if we don’t
those bad things in fact if we don’t
those bad things in fact if we don’t make a change deliberately really what
make a change deliberately really what
make a change deliberately really what we may be saying is we’ll just wait for
we may be saying is we’ll just wait for
we may be saying is we’ll just wait for the tragedy to come along before we make
the tragedy to come along before we make
the tragedy to come along before we make a change in how we treat one another but
a change in how we treat one another but
a change in how we treat one another but there’s another option and that option
there’s another option and that option
there’s another option and that option is to make a deliberate decision to be
is to make a deliberate decision to be
is to make a deliberate decision to be the change to drop the labels the way
the change to drop the labels the way
the change to drop the labels the way they did at UCC strong and the
they did at UCC strong and the
they did at UCC strong and the preconceived notions that come along
preconceived notions that come along
preconceived notions that come along with them to manufacture kindness the
with them to manufacture kindness the
with them to manufacture kindness the way Liana Gotha teas did with the
way Liana Gotha teas did with the
way Liana Gotha teas did with the kindness Diaries and then to go out and
kindness Diaries and then to go out and
kindness Diaries and then to go out and look for opportunities in your own way
look for opportunities in your own way
look for opportunities in your own way to generate and encourage togetherness
to generate and encourage togetherness
to generate and encourage togetherness without tragedy
”
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