What’s wrong? What’s right?

Living gratefully today, I strive to be a keen observer. Of myself and my thoughts and emotions. Of the world around me, including the humans and other living beings that inhabit it. Paying attention brings both the hearty and the heavy into focus.

The other day, also known as Black Friday, my husband Darcy and I opted for a drive to a different part of our metro area. Not to shop, but to experience new places. And to take in the mural below that had made the news recently. It is located on the side of the Hairdo or Dye Family Hair Salon in Rush City, Minnesota. Catchy name, great mural. Thank you to owners Erin and Jason Oare and artist Peggy Skalicky. Read more here.

We made stops in two other communities as well, enjoying some delightful food along the way, and a teeny bit of shopping, but mostly the nice weather for walking and taking in the quaint downtown areas. In one community, we witnessed this, a clear example of what is wrong (or at least concerning) in our society today:

At a stoplight, as we waited to cross the street, a car (#2), second in line at a light that had turned green a few seconds prior, tapped the horn to alert the first car (#1) in line that they could proceed. The driver of car # 1 was quite obviously looking down at their phone. Anyone looking could see that. We did. It took a second tap on the horn from car #2 to get car #1 to get the hint, at which point the driver of car #1 did finally move, but also laid on their horn for at least a block. Huh?? Where is the disconnect here?

Thankfully, we witnessed much more of what is right (and good and hopeful) in our society today on Friday and yesterday in these communities and in our own. Such simple things as friendly and welcome greetings, tasty food, patience with questions, festive holiday decorations, young voices singing holiday songs, an impressive and mesmerizing fire show, community spirit as new snowflake lights adorned our local downtown for the first time. Along with smiles and “excuse mes” and other civility and good manners, at least some of my hope was restored.

What’s wrong with the world? Plenty. What’s right with the world. Way more than is wrong with it. It’s all a matter of where you and I put our attention, intentions, and actions.

Mural on the side of Hairdo or Dye Salon in Rush City, MN. (Owners Erin and Jason Oare. Artist Peggy Skalicky).