The good, the bad, and the reality

I meant to write a lot this month. Then I kept spending time outside and with people I love... and that's when I realized it's more important to be present verses living life to document it. The good.

Then the senseless shooting happened in Charleston, and churches continued to be burned, and the news decided to tell us only of celebrity pregnancies and divorces. The bad.

And sometimes I feel inspired at 11pm to write so I remember, so here we are. Reality.

The good.

• It was my birthday - my coworker got me flowers, my mom got me a Dairy Queen cake (childhood tradition), my dad shared his Busch Light, and I was showered in love all day.
• The Pope recognized the need to do something about climate change
• I've significantly increased the population of my hometown on two occasions to blend my Minneapolis and St. Martin people. 
• The SCOTUS got it's shit together. I was sad to miss out on Pride festivities this year, 
• Semi-related. Identity inclusion, and educational programming that allows students to explore their potential, to discover their brilliance and develop their intellect. Video by students at LJA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG6fTqdg0LU
• Sophia while still recovering, has returned to our Global Shapers team...and I finally got to meet her precious children and wonderful husband. They were delightful, and also reminded me that I'm not ready for children of my own.
• The Farmers Market is open and I've been golfing several times - summer is in full swing.
• Intern season (work) is already half over and it's been another fantastic summer so far.
• Camp is around the corner, ShapeNA brings me to Canada two weeks later, and in August Global Shapers will join me with 450+ entrepreneurial change makers from around the world in Geneva.

The bad.

• Charleston shooting (and too many others)
• 8 churches have been burned in 10 days
• We continue to point fingers and make excuses about -isms instead of listening.
• Serious droughts are happening in California
• The Gender Gap
• The Achievement Gap 
• Gentrification is getting worse in my neighborhood

The reality.

• Systems are broken.
• We all need to be part of the solution.
• We are connected by humanity and are more similar than different.
• The world is small.
• I am blessed.
• There is always something to be thankful for.

This feels incomplete, but now I'm tired.