We are living at a time when we are re-learning and re-trusting in our abilities to connect with one another. I like to refer to these connections as "threads" that bond us together and remind us that each one of us provides an important and also beautiful part of something much larger than ourselves. We yearn to see "threads" of self-recognition in others, just as we hope others will recognize something of them in what we say or do. We want so badly to reach out, to find people "like us" in the world, but we've all earned somewhere along the way to be afraid of outreaching, or we are too busy, or we are just worried that someone will cut our little thread in half and pull us out from where we belong. So we say nothing...we do nothing.

Here's what I've learned. With each outreach we make in thought, deed, or any kind of expression, there are hundreds,...thousands of threads around us that will only pull together more tightly if there is any threat aimed at us that might tear us away from the "blanket"...from where we belong. That "pulling" is what makes the threads which make up this blanket of "who we are" even STRONGER.

So...imagine yourself as a vibrantly-colored thread in a multi-colored, knitted blanket. You were woven there with great intention. You are also part of a delicate collaboration of threads that make up this elaborately designed blanket, and when even one thread begins to unravel, all the threads come to the rescue, for they know if one thread unravels, eventually so will the entire blanket. It is in the blanket's best interest to keep each and every thread intact. Each one of us is a single, beautiful thread that makes up this blanket of humanity that covers the Earth. Sometimes large amounts of the blanket are damaged, leaving gaping holes that need repair. We have seen a lot of damage lately to our blanket, and seeing this is what makes us feel emotions of sadness, anger or frustration. Thankfully, we are also capable of re-threading ourselves into places where we repair is needed...and the way we do this is by reaching out, communicating, speaking to others, giving to others, having the courage to stretch ourselves just a little more to cover an empty space in our blanket of humanity.

I know this all may sound just way too cliché, but all it takes is a small step forward to begin the re-weaving process. Others will join you as you peek your head up and let your presence be known. It only takes one small step to begin a giant momentum of change and progress. What makes a blanket strong is the strength of its individual threads, each supporting one other and forming a solid foundation. We are the threads of the human race right now, and we can, one thread at a time, rebuild our blanket to its glorious state of perfection and harmony.