Everything we do, each small act, leaves an impression.
Make it one of kindness, empathy, reason and peace.
—Janine Vangool, Uppercase magazine

•••

She asks in her weekly online newsletter
in big block print letters:

ARE YOU OK?

In another photo, she adds,

I AM NOT OK WITH THIS

And who is, really? In these times
of unnecessary tumult and meanness.

In this moment when so many
are reaching out with kindness,

as if we can counteract the ugly,
the awful, with a hand extended,

perhaps offering a flower to
someone walking by, as the hippies,

bless them, did in what feels like
such a long-ago time.

Peace and love, baby. We’re
singing that refrain again, along

with We shall overcome someday…
and Give peace a chance.

Not OK at all. But may we, with a series
of small, big-hearted acts, leave an

impression—a big or a small one—
with all beings everywhere

of kindness, empathy, reason and peace.

•••

In memory of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, whose last words before being killed
by ICE agents, were, to an injured woman he was trying to help,
“Are you OK?”

And in honor of the venerable monks and Aloka the Peace Dog of the
Huong Dao Buddhist Temple, walking 2,300 miles from Fort Worth, Texas,
to Washington, D.C., to spread awareness of peace, mindfulness, compassion,
loving-kindness and unity.

With gratitude and thanks to all who have helped them on this journey—
from their own team to the police and firefighters, volunteer medical
and veterinary professionals, and the thousands who have come to feed,
see and listen to the venerable monks and Aloka, the peace dog.

With thanks for the inspiration to Janine Vangool, editor and publisher
of the beautiful magazine Uppercase, “made with love in Canada,”
as her website says, which you can find here.