Why Haiti Matters

If there is one thing that I’ve learned in all my traveling, it is that despite our many outward differences of cultures, customs, languages and appearances, all of life shares one common light.

As I’m sure you’ve heard or read, a large Earthquake struck Haiti, the poorest nation in the western hemisphere. According to the country’s prime minister, more than 100,000 people are dead but the numbers are still daunting and unclear in scope.

Let’s be clear: These are our brothers, our sisters, our mothers and our fathers. The struggles faced by the Haitian people are a shared burden that must be carried by all of us. A hardship for one is a hardship for all. This is our family. Some may criticize the massive amount of aid that our nation is giving but not me. We cannot give enough. We cannot help enough. We are responsible.

Today isn’t about the indifference of others, or the lack of resources committed by other countries or wealthy individuals. Today is about the compassion that you hold in your heart, and the generosity that you are able to show. Please join me in giving to UNICEF’s fund to help children affected by the earthquake.

Are you a Victim or a Creator

I have two questions for you. And I want you to answer them honestly and truthfully.

Question #1: Do you believe that you are a victim of your circumstances, or that you are a creator of your reality?

In other words, do you believe that life happens to you, or that you happen to life?

Of course, situations in our lives unfold over which we have little control. The weather. A freak accident. The death of a loved one. But we do have control over how we view those situations. And, in my experience, it’s these views that make all the difference.

Upon giving question #1 some thought, most of us would agree that we’re the creators of our reality. This experience of life isn’t a passive one; like a great author, we write each word, line and chapter in this book of life.

Almost all of us believe that we are the creators of our reality.

Question #2: Do you act like you are a victim of your circumstances, or that you are a creator of your reality?

Give this some thought. We know what you believe, but how do you act? What is your honest answer?

For many of us, there is a disconnect between our thoughts and our actions. We believe that we are creators, but we act like we are victims with things we say, the feelings and reactions we hope to elicit from others, the attention we crave, the relationships we build and the words we use to describe our situations.

The next time you find yourself saying, “It’s such a crummy day outside,” recognize that the day is only crummy because you have judged it as such. There is nothing instructively miserable about rain. Only about your perspective of rain. The same is true for anything else, from life to death and everything in between.

The next time you sing yourself a sob story, recognize that there are other ways to view your situation. Remind yourself that your situation is only difficult because you have decided it is difficult. And that in the pain you’ve chosen to internalize, you have decided to overlook the messages, opportunities and lessons being offered up by that situation.

So I ask you, are you a victim or are you a creator?