The past few weeks have been uplifting and heartbreaking all at the same time. I’ve kept quiet because every time I write something pertaining to the police brutality or the killings in Pakistan or really, all over the globe, or the beheadings of journalists…I just don’t know how to say all I’m feeling and wishing and hoping. So I stay quiet, and I try to do best by the people I interact with every day, because I feel like that’s all I can do.

But I’ve been reading and listening a lot. I find when something makes me emotional, reading others’ opinions on the facts always shows me that people at the root of it, are good, and they have similar feelings to me, and they make me think, and that, if nothing else, helps calm my soul.

So here’s an article that just calls it like it is about Hollywood. Here’s a quote that really meant something to me, “You’re telling me no Mexicans are qualified to do anything at a studio? Really? Nothing but mop up? What are the odds that that’s true? The odds are, because people are people, that there’s probably a Mexican David Geffen mopping up for somebody’s company right now. The odds are that there’s probably a Mexican who’s that smart who’s never going to be given a shot.”

And here’s another thing: every Friday, at 7:25 (ish), my local NPR station (what what KPCC!) plays a Story Corps podcast. Most Fridays, I am in the car at this time, waiting for the moment, and nine times out of ten, it makes me cry – because humans are awful, or because humans are compassionate, or because humans are just so cruel/amazing/the worst. Now, usually I just tear up, but I’ll tell you something, this story just made me sob.

Because you guys,  how awesome is it that this air force colonel not only went with the idea that he was Santa, but he also called the radio station to say that the AIR FORCE WAS SEEING A SLEIGH. That, my friends, is just amazing. So many people in this world do really important life changing stuff, but sometimes it’s just how you treat others (whether they’re children or not) that is what you’re remembered for.

Also let’s take a minute for Serial being over.

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But seriously, go listen to RadioLab to fill the void. Just as interesting, usually with better endings (no offense to Sarah, we knew what we were getting ourselves into.)

At the end of a long week, at the end of a rambling blog post about many things large and small, I am signing off to go to bed to catch a plane to Chicago to see the family. I hope that you’re having a good holiday season, and that you can take some time to reflect on the events of humanity and just, for a second, breathe deep and help out a fellow human. I wish, as always, for peace this season.