I was asked to write a letter to address the post-election malaise many of Zen Hospice Projects supporters were experiencing. Here is the request:
“I’m looking for a letter that speaks to the country’s malaise after the election that is tied to the optimism that our care model, what Zen Hospice Project does every day, compassionate care by the bedside, educating more informal and professional caregivers is tied to.
Our objective here is to inspire and motivate our community to not be fatigued by the election results, rather be inspired that this is now a time to stand strong for your beliefs. And we want to do this ahead of our year end appeal for donations.
Here is the letter I wrote. I was to be sent via email blast to donors as part of a donor engagement project.
“November 8, 2016 ended a long, sometimes exhausting election season. Many people are asking themselves and others how to move forward. And the best answer we’ve come up with is to keep doing what we do every day — to live with intention, to listen and truly hear, to love without condition, to offer compassion, to educate and inspire, and to continually rededicate ourselves to the service of others.
Now is a time for both reflection and celebration, for introspection and joy. Zen Hospice Project has a long history of serving the underserved in a compassionate, loving, accepting way. That will not change. And by educating more informal and professional caregivers about Mindful Caregiving and what we do here at ZHP, we will spread our message of hope throughout the country and the world.
While our political lives may have changed, we don’t have to. We can choose to be inspired to stand strong in the face of adversity as our residents, employees, and volunteers do every day. We can come together and continue to build and develop a community we all feel proud to live in. We can set an example through our model of care and through the positive interactions we have with each person who comes into our lives. We can be, as Mahatma Gandhi once said, the light we wish to see in this world. We invite you to join us as we offer our best—not only in spite of adversity, but because of it. Together we are strong. Together we are powerful. Together we can change the world. And together we will.”