Photography by Lori K. Tate
I feel so much better this week even though a sinus infection continues to throb in my head. Of course, the highlight of the week was the inauguration. Seeing the Capitol beaming during the ceremony just two weeks after it was attacked made my heart happy, and it made me proud of our country’s resiliency.
Seeing a woman being sworn in as Vice President was an even more monumental moment for me and one that I’m so grateful my daughter got to see early in her life. I want her and all the other girls out there, big and small, to know that women are fierce and that we can do hard things, big things, complicated things, all sorts of things. Just watch.
I know not everyone is as excited as I am. Needless to say, our political climate is toxic and messy these days. It’s so disheartening because healthy debate and compromise are integral to a successful democracy, as they serve as powerful teaching tools. Looking at an issue from someone else’s point of view not only helps you understand it better, but it also opens up so many more ways to work together and find solutions.
Take today for example. This morning, I had my first Covid test because some of my sinus issues mirror symptoms of the virus. My test was administered in the parking lot of a Japanese steakhouse. As I sat there waiting for the results, I remembered the times I’d gone to the restaurant for birthday celebrations and how we laughed when the teppanyaki chef caught a shrimp in his hat. The Tots even went there for a field trip when they studied Japan in school. What a different place it was today and what a different world we’re living in now.
When the nurse came to my car with my negative result, the sun was shining in a Carolina blue sky. All I could do was be grateful and think of so many others who haven’t received the same news. It’s important to try on someone else’s shoes before you settle into your own.
That’s a big part of the work we have to do. It’s work we have to do together to bridge the division in this country. It’s not going to be easy, but it’s beyond necessary, and it’s not as hard as you think. Talk and listen, remember and dream, think and solve, love and heal. See what happens.
Doing these things will make us better, smarter and solid. That’s the America I want for my kids. That’s the one we have to deliver to them.
So without going further out on a tangent, here is this week’s Weekly Winks. Every Friday I share the Winks of Goodness I experienced throughout the week in the hopes of inspiring you to do the same thing. I’ve found that writing down and formally acknowledging these suckers gives them more power. I encourage you to share your own Weekly Winks on my site or on social media. Look around and write it down — share the goodness.
Saturday— I worked out with my friends in the snow. No, it didn’t snow for long, but we milked it for all it was worth.
Sunday— I watched The Tots play tennis. It’s so much fun seeing them rally back and forth.
Monday— To honor Martin Luther King, Jr., The Tots and I made lunches for Roof Above. Hearing their thoughts about social justice makes me feel so much better about the future.
Tuesday— Our church held a beautiful prayer service online for a peaceful transfer of power.
Wednesday— The inauguration was all that and a bag of chips, and I am so grateful that there wasn’t any violence. I loved Amanda Gorman’s poem, as well as her brilliant presentation. I loved J Lo, Lady Gaga and Garth Brooks, and I loved that Laura Bush wore flats. It was a wonderful day for women and for our country.
Thursday— John and I watched at least four episodes of Schitt’s Creek in a row. I can’t get enough of this show.
Friday— My Covid and flu tests came back negative. Even though I’m still dealing with a dreadful sinus infection/sinusitis, at least I don’t have Covid.
Happy weekend, friends! Go talk with people who don’t think like you do and start building a bridge. Go!