Global Neighborhood
By Linda Commito
To love one’s country is natural, but why must it end at that border. – Pablo Cassals
When I was growing up, my parents told me, “Finish your vegetables, because poor people are starving.” Their admonishment didn’t mean much to me because I had never seen someone starving in China or India or anywhere else. Today, because of cable television and the Internet, we regularly see the hungry faces of people in other countries in our living rooms, kitchens, and classrooms. It makes the plight of others more tangible.
Global has become local. As our awareness has expanded, we are experiencing a universal connection that can transform everyone into a neighbor with the click of a button.
Is anyone really so far away? Even if people look different than we do, are they really? Don’t they ache like we do when they lose a loved one? Don’t they suffer if they lose their homes or businesses? And don’t they feel despair when they’re hungry, sick, lonely, or weary? It’s evident that our neighbors are everywhere, and we all need each other’s help.
With each world crisis, we are reminded that in one moment our lives can change. In one moment we could lose all that we love and hold dear. The Japanese people, who share the same moon, sun, and planet as we do, experienced a series of moments when the earth and waters shifted and thousands of lives were lost, while thousands more were changed forever. Many of our fellow world citizens in that country are now hungry, weary, injured, and have lost their loved ones, homes, and even entire villages.
We don’t have to belong to the same family, community, neighborhood, or country to extend a helping hand, to offer financial, physical, or emotional support. In fact, we are all part of one tribe: It’s called the human race. Millions of us throughout the world share a heart connection as we join in prayers for the health, safety, and well-being of the victims of Japan’s natural and man-made disasters, and other tragedies around the globe.
When we witness the pain and suffering of others with open hearts and hold them in our thoughts and prayers, the flow of loving energy doesn’t take into account where someone lives, what they look like, or what they do for a living. In fact, we might never meet in person. We are one loving heart touching another; the feelings of compassion are the same.
Regardless of religious or spiritual beliefs, we have come to realize that what we do for or to each other matters. As our concept of neighborhood expands to global proportions, we express our currency of love by simply seeing a need and doing our best to meet it. In doing so, we discover and experience the sense of oneness that almost all religions speak about—a connection to the divine source of life itself—and we are all equal participants.
Linda Commito has had many incarnations: teacher, entrepreneur, author, speaker, coach, and facilitator. She is passionate about connecting people in ways that create a sense of belonging and facilitate the fulfillment of each other’s needs. This passion has found expression in her first book in a series, Love is the New Currency – a collection of uplifting, heart-centered stories that demonstrate how we can each make a difference in the lives of others through simple acts of love and kindness. Linda’s dream of writing a book that will make a positive contribution to the planet is only the beginning of her vision and legacy to leave this world a kinder, more loving and interconnected place. Visit www.loveisthenewcurrency.com
