W h a t  i s  i t  y o u  p l a n  t o  d o  w i t h  y o u r  o n e  w i l d  a n d  p r e c i o u s  l i f e ?

I remember pulling the covers over my head at night in the dark-completely cocooning myself inside.

I now know what I was hiding from: random violence, child labor, AIDS, poverty, genocide… It's enough to make me want to crawl back under the covers.

It would be so easy to concentrate completely on my own life: save money for a larger home, practice yoga, enjoy leisurely games of bocce in the backyard while sipping Prosecco with my wonderful husband.

How can I still enjoy all that in the context of such a troubled world? I hear people call it balance.

Every morning, I will go out into the world and offer what I can to make it better. I will shine a spotlight on problems that are painful to acknowledge and difficult solve. I will ask pointed questions, and inspire others with my attitude and actions. I will try to bring my vision of the world closer to reality.

Every evening, I will seek respite in my own life. I will savor my Prosecco and the solid feel of the bocce ball. I will sleep curled up with my husband, without the covers pulled up over my head.

And the next morning, I will go out into the world again and offer what I can to make it better.

– Dana Hamerschlag

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