{"id":799,"date":"2024-10-21T18:05:40","date_gmt":"2024-10-21T18:05:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/justcareforall.life\/?page_id=799"},"modified":"2026-03-19T22:24:59","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T22:24:59","slug":"chapter-5-elixir","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/justcareforall.life\/?page_id=799","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 5, Drop of Life"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Our Present: Healing<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Chapter 5: Replenish<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Thirst for the Elixir of Release<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n<\/p>

The sound of hard steel smacking cold steel<\/p>\n

jolts me awake. <\/p>\n

I’m balled up in a fetal roll,<\/span><\/p>\n

my limbs still in chains.<\/p>\n

A new one tethers me to a pole.<\/p>


<\/span><\/p>

‘N the dead bolt seals my fate.<\/span><\/p>\n

When I felt the creepy slimy slugs<\/p>\n

of black tar slide off of me<\/p>\n

‘n watched ’em slink back<\/p>\n

into darkness, I knew <\/span><\/p>\n

it was all too real–<\/span>Wait, how did I see?<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t


<\/p>\n

I have a little different definition of evil than than most people. <\/p>\n

When you have the opportunity and ability to do good and do nothing, <\/p>\n

that’s evil. Evil doesn’t always have to be an overt act,<\/p>\n

it can be merely the absence of good.<\/p>\n

–Yvon Chouinard. Born 1938. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t


<\/p>

Our worst enemies are not the ignorant and simple,<\/p>\n

however cruel; our worst enemies are the intelligent and corrupt.<\/p>\n

–Graham Greene. 1904-1991<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

We are fast approaching the stages of the\u00a0
ultimate inversion:
<\/span>the stage where government is free to do
anything it pleases,\u00a0
<\/span>while the citizens may act only by permission;
which is the stage of the darkest period of
human history, the stage of rule by brute force.<\/span><\/p>

–Ayn Rand. 1905-1982.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t


<\/p>

He who fights with monsters might take<\/p>\n

care lest he thereby becomes a monster.<\/p>\n

And if you gaze for long into an abyss,<\/p>\n

the abyss gazes also into you.<\/p>\n

–Friedrick Nietzche, 1844-1900.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

My eyes adapted to infrared.<\/span><\/p>

At that moment, in front of me,<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

I saw more tiny lights ‘n leapt.<\/p>

Yanked back with a bone-crushing jolt.<\/p>

I raged against my tethered state<\/p>

‘n heaved against my restraints.\u00a0<\/p>

Dispirited, defeated, at my lowest.<\/p>

The tiny spots of light approached. Eyes.<\/p>

In no mood for company<\/p>

Thousands of phosphorescent\u00a0<\/p>

neon eyes\u00a0surrounded me.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Who chained me up? You?<\/p>

What? What are you looking at? Hah?<\/p>

You think I’m the featured freak in this zoo?<\/p>

Have you looked in a mirror, lately?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

They had no faces!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t


<\/p>

Chains, they are of our own choosing.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Only eyes suspended in glowing oval rings<\/p>

atop black-cloaked, two-dimensional bodies,<\/p>

like paper cut-outs, more like their shadows,<\/p>

set against darkness, barely distinguishable.<\/p>

They fluttered in the wind.<\/p>

One pair grew close,<\/p>

I sensed–the SLAPPER!<\/p>

I pulled back and demanded,<\/p>

Why didn’t you storm the gates<\/p>

when they opened up for me, huh?<\/p>

That faint resonance I felt earlier was<\/p>

now mysteriously decipherable to me:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t


<\/p>

Anger and intolerance are the enemies <\/p>\n

of correct understanding.<\/p>\n

–Mohandas Gandhi. 1869-1948.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t


<\/p>

Loving your enemies does not mean <\/p>\n

you hav<\/span>e to agree with or accept what they do.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can still love all of mankind and <\/p>\n

be outspoken for what you believe.<\/p>\n

–Bethany Jane Andrews Hoey<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t


<\/p>

I believe the greatest gift I can conceive of<\/p>\n

having from anyone is to be seen by them,<\/p>\n

heard by them, to be understood and touched by them.<\/p>\n

The greatest gift I can give is to see, hear, <\/p>\n

understand and to touch another person.<\/p>\n

When this is done I feel contact has been made.<\/p>\n

–Virginia Satir. 1916-1988.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\u00a0<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

I am Tukayo.<\/i><\/p>

We are all very proud of you.<\/i><\/p>

You advocated well and upheld our valu<\/i>es.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\u00a0<\/p>

You saw what they did\u00a0<\/p>

… back home<\/p>

… to us?<\/span><\/p>

I bowed my head in shame<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t


<\/p>

I saw what you did in response.<\/p>\n

All times past,<\/p>\n

in this moment and all time following,<\/p>\n

I see you<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\u00a0<\/p>

Tukayo cupped both hands ‘n cried into them.<\/p>

Silvery, mirror-like tears pooled in her hands.<\/p>

Upon their shimmering surface, I saw:<\/p>

No face, no identitiers of any sort.<\/p>

Forgot, I was scrubbed. I looked up:<\/p>

Tukayo threw her tears into the air.<\/p>

They burst into a million\u00a0<\/p>

tiny paper dolls with wings.<\/p>

Them–me–all of us.<\/p>

My indignation subsided.<\/p>

We had no markers; no mouths.<\/p>

No lips; no tongues; no nose; no ears.<\/p>

Yet, vocal cords worked ‘n let ’em hummm.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t


<\/p>

Heaven knows we need never be ashamed<\/p>\n

of our tears, for they are rain upon the <\/p>\n

blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts.<\/p>\n

I was better after I had cried, than before–<\/p>\n

more sorry, more aware of my own ingratitude, more gentle.<\/p>\n

–Charles Dickens. 1812-1870.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\u00a0<\/p>

In many countries today, moral and<\/p>

ethical norms are being reconsidered;<\/p>

national traditions, differences\u00a0<\/p>

in nation and culture are being erased<\/p>

–Vladimir Putin. Born 1952.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t


<\/p>

Please joion us. You are not alone.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t


<\/p>

No thanks. Just passin’ through.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t


<\/p>

All of us, at some time or other, need help.<\/p>\n

Whether we’re giving or receiving help,<\/p>\n

each one of us has something <\/p>\n

valuable to bring to this world.<\/p>\n

That’s one of the things that connects us as neighbors<\/p>\n

–in our own way, each one of us is a giver and a receiver<\/p>\n

–Fred ‘Mr.’ Rogers. 1928-2003.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t


<\/p>

Gonna find a way out.<\/p>\n

I fought my restraints.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n


<\/p>

They started to hummm.<\/p>\n

The resonance built up ‘n up ‘n up<\/p>\n

until I could feel my shackles vibrate.<\/p>\n

They heated up. I moaned in burnin’ pain.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\u00a0<\/p>

Tukayo tenderly took my hands.<\/p>

Somehow, my heart began to feel<\/p>

the full breadth ‘n true depth of my real<\/i> pain;<\/p>

had no idea it was even there, let alone so much.<\/p>

Not a great reward for surviving, not at all.<\/p>

Not exactly my idea of victory, not at all.<\/p>

The steel cuffs snapped open ‘n fell off.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t


<\/p>

If you never heal from what hurt you,<\/p>\n

you’ll bleed on people who didn’t cut you.<\/p>\n

–Tamara Kulish.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t


<\/p>

Someone said, “Anger is sadness that has <\/p>\n

nowhere to go for a very long time.”<\/p>\n

–Anonymous.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t


<\/p>

Hope is the elixir of life. It is the engine that<\/p>\n

propels us forward in our pursuit of countless<\/p>\n

goals, all of which might otherwise be impossible<\/p>\n

to undertake if we were bereft of hope.<\/p>\n

–Gad Saad. Born 1964.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Tukayo held my freed hands up ‘n cupped ’em.<\/p>

Slowly my hands filled with her tears.<\/p>

I learned, this is how they drank,\u00a0<\/p>

from their hands, and so did I.<\/p>

My new source of sustenance.<\/p>

So quenching, as it absorbed\u00a0<\/p>

deep into me. Replenishing.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

So came their Third Gift:<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The Elixir of Life: Release!<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t


<\/p>

Born of our diversity,<\/p>\n

the plethora of catharses<\/p>\n

desalinates and distills<\/p>\n

our tears into an elixir<\/p>\n

that can cure any social ill.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t


<\/p>

Let the rain kiss you.<\/p>\n

Let the rain beat upon your head with silver <\/p>\n

liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby.<\/span><\/p>\n

–Langston Hughes. 1901-1967. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t


<\/p>

It’s a relief to hear the rain, It’s the sound of<\/p>\n

billions of drops, all equal, all equally committed<\/p>\n

to falling, like sudden outbreak of democracy.<\/p>\n

Water, when it hits the ground, instantly<\/p>\n

becomes a puddle or rivulet or flood.<\/p>\n

–Alice Oswald. Born 1966.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t


<\/p>

Legitimacy is the elixir of political power.<\/p>\n

–Fareed Zakaria.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t


<\/p>

There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the <\/p>\n

mark of weakness, but of power. They speak<\/p>\n

more eloquently than ten thousand tongues.<\/p>\n

They are the messengers of overwhelming grief,<\/p>\n

of deep contrition and of unmistakable love.<\/p>\n

–Washington Irving. 1783-1859.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\u00a0<\/p>

Like the droplets of rain,<\/i><\/p>

drawn down into the aquifer,<\/i><\/p>

filtered by the earth, pulled alo<\/i>ng<\/p>

into the stream,<\/p>

into the brook,<\/p>

into the river,<\/p>

and back to sea.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

We, too, meld together, as one,<\/span><\/p>

without loss of and strengthened<\/p>

by our individuality.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Our tears are the drops of life.<\/span><\/p>

For all true citizens of democracy,<\/p>

the capillary pull between our sweat,<\/p>

tears, fears and prayers, is our strength.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChapter 6, Connect<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Our Present: Healing Chapter 5: Replenish Thirst for the Elixir of Release The sound of hard steel smacking cold steel jolts me awake.  I’m balled up in a fetal roll, my limbs still in chains. A new one tethers me to a pole. ‘N the dead bolt seals my fate. When I felt the creepy slimy slugs of black tar slide off of me ‘n watched ’em slink back into darkness, I knew  it was all too real–Wait, how did I see? I have a little different definition of evil than than most people.  When you have the opportunity and ability to do good and do nothing,  that’s evil. Evil doesn’t always have to be an overt act, it can be merely the absence of good. –Yvon Chouinard. Born 1938.  Our worst enemies are not the ignorant and simple, however cruel; our worst enemies are the intelligent and corrupt. –Graham Greene. 1904-1991 We are fast approaching the stages of the\u00a0ultimate inversion:the stage where government is free to do anything it pleases,\u00a0while the citizens may act only by permission; which is the stage of the darkest period of human history, the stage of rule by brute force. –Ayn Rand. 1905-1982. He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby becomes a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you. –Friedrick Nietzche, 1844-1900. My eyes adapted to infrared. At that moment, in front of me, \u00a0 I saw more tiny lights ‘n leapt. Yanked back with a bone-crushing jolt. I raged against my tethered state ‘n heaved against my restraints.\u00a0 Dispirited, defeated, at my lowest. The tiny spots of light approached. Eyes. In no mood for company Thousands of phosphorescent\u00a0 neon eyes\u00a0surrounded me. \u00a0 Who chained me up? You? What? What are you looking at? Hah? You think I’m the featured freak in this zoo? Have you looked in a mirror, lately? They had no faces! Chains, they are of our own choosing. Only eyes suspended in glowing oval rings atop black-cloaked, two-dimensional bodies, like paper cut-outs, more like their shadows, set against darkness, barely distinguishable. They fluttered in the wind. One pair grew close, I sensed–the SLAPPER! I pulled back and demanded, Why didn’t you storm the gates when they opened up for me, huh? That faint resonance I felt earlier was now mysteriously decipherable to me: Anger and intolerance are the enemies  of correct understanding. –Mohandas Gandhi. 1869-1948. Loving your enemies does not mean  you have to agree with or accept what they do. You can still love all of mankind and  be outspoken for what you believe. –Bethany Jane Andrews Hoey I believe the greatest gift I can conceive of having from anyone is to be seen by them, heard by them, to be understood and touched by them. The greatest gift I can give is to see, hear,  understand and to touch another person. When this is done I feel contact has been made. –Virginia Satir. 1916-1988. \u00a0 \u00a0 I am Tukayo. We are all very proud of you. You advocated well and upheld our values. \u00a0 \u00a0 You saw what they did\u00a0 … back home … to us? I bowed my head in shame I saw what you did in response. All times past, in this moment and all time following, I see you \u00a0 Tukayo cupped both hands ‘n cried into them. Silvery, mirror-like tears pooled in her hands. Upon their shimmering surface, I saw: No face, no identitiers of any sort. Forgot, I was scrubbed. I looked up: Tukayo threw her tears into the air. They burst into a million\u00a0 tiny paper dolls with wings. Them–me–all of us. My indignation subsided. We had no markers; no mouths. No lips; no tongues; no nose; no ears. Yet, vocal cords worked ‘n let ’em hummm. Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the  blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts. I was better after I had cried, than before– more sorry, more aware of my own ingratitude, more gentle. –Charles Dickens. 1812-1870. \u00a0 In many countries today, moral and ethical norms are being reconsidered; national traditions, differences\u00a0 in nation and culture are being erased –Vladimir Putin. Born 1952. Please joion us. You are not alone. No thanks. Just passin’ through. All of us, at some time or other, need help. Whether we’re giving or receiving help, each one of us has something  valuable to bring to this world. That’s one of the things that connects us as neighbors –in our own way, each one of us is a giver and a receiver –Fred ‘Mr.’ Rogers. 1928-2003. Gonna find a way out. I fought my restraints. They started to hummm. The resonance built up ‘n up ‘n up until I could feel my shackles vibrate. They heated up. I moaned in burnin’ pain. \u00a0 Tukayo tenderly took my hands. Somehow, my heart began to feel the full breadth ‘n true depth of my real pain; had no idea it was even there, let alone so much. Not a great reward for surviving, not at all. Not exactly my idea of victory, not at all. The steel cuffs snapped open ‘n fell off. If you never heal from what hurt you, you’ll bleed on people who didn’t cut you. –Tamara Kulish. Someone said, “Anger is sadness that has  nowhere to go for a very long time.” –Anonymous. Hope is the elixir of life. It is the engine that propels us forward in our pursuit of countless goals, all of which might otherwise be impossible to undertake if we were bereft of hope. –Gad Saad. Born 1964. Tukayo held my freed hands up ‘n cupped ’em. Slowly my hands filled with her tears. I learned, this is how they drank,\u00a0 from their hands, and so did I. My new source of sustenance. So quenching, as it absorbed\u00a0 deep into me. Replenishing. So came their Third Gift: The Elixir of Life: Release!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_canvas","meta":{"ocean_post_layout":"","ocean_both_sidebars_style":"","ocean_both_sidebars_content_width":0,"ocean_both_sidebars_sidebars_width":0,"ocean_sidebar":"","ocean_second_sidebar":"","ocean_disable_margins":"enable","ocean_add_body_class":"","ocean_shortcode_before_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_after_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_before_header":"","ocean_shortcode_after_header":"","ocean_has_shortcode":"","ocean_shortcode_after_title":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_bottom":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_bottom":"","ocean_display_top_bar":"default","ocean_display_header":"default","ocean_header_style":"","ocean_center_header_left_menu":"","ocean_custom_header_template":"","ocean_custom_logo":0,"ocean_custom_retina_logo":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_height":0,"ocean_header_custom_menu":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_family":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_subset":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_size":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_unit":"px","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_line_height":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_unit":"","ocean_menu_typo_spacing":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_unit":"","ocean_menu_link_color":"","ocean_menu_link_color_hover":"","ocean_menu_link_color_active":"","ocean_menu_link_background":"","ocean_menu_link_hover_background":"","ocean_menu_link_active_background":"","ocean_menu_social_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_links_color":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_color":"","ocean_disable_title":"default","ocean_disable_heading":"default","ocean_post_title":"","ocean_post_subheading":"","ocean_post_title_style":"","ocean_post_title_background_color":"","ocean_post_title_background":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_image_position":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_attachment":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_repeat":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_size":"","ocean_post_title_height":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay":0.5,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay_color":"","ocean_disable_breadcrumbs":"default","ocean_breadcrumbs_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_separator_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_hover_color":"","ocean_display_footer_widgets":"default","ocean_display_footer_bottom":"default","ocean_custom_footer_template":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-799","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/justcareforall.life\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/799","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/justcareforall.life\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/justcareforall.life\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/justcareforall.life\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/justcareforall.life\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=799"}],"version-history":[{"count":94,"href":"https:\/\/justcareforall.life\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/799\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5309,"href":"https:\/\/justcareforall.life\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/799\/revisions\/5309"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/justcareforall.life\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=799"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}