A unique seasonal switch
Fall foliage lines a country road in Pomfret, Vermont, in early October. (Gareth Henderson Photo)
Every day brings another sign of fall heading into winter, and this year, the seasonal transition is unique.
As the familiar scenes of tumbling leaves and the first snowflakes grace our landscape, there is a sense of something less familiar, a feeling of uncharted waters awaiting us. In those waters, we see challenges we've learned more about in recent months, including the pandemic, resulting financial strain, and the racial tensions pervading the nation. Among all this, there seems to be a growing feeling of polarization, a lack of collective will to strive together for solutions on these pressing issues. Many times, that division can be the most frustrating problem, as it exacerbates the impact of the other three.
As troubling as these factors are, there is cause for hope, even as we head into the coldest season of the year. We can easily affirm we have a strong foundation as people, and can still realize further progress, because of what we've done up to this point. We have helped our neighbors, sectors have innovated to meet urgent needs, and new generations have stepped up in the social justice movement. Furthermore, more people have an awareness of the fact that their actions in support of a just cause can make a difference, even if those actions seem small at the time.
Moving forward, we can use the seasonal switch not as an impediment to progress, but as an opportunity. Let it be an opportunity which further unites us around all we have learned this year about ourselves and how we can make a difference in others' lives, and thus amplify the greater good for all. More than anything else, we've learned that we don't exist on an island, even if we live on a remote hill in the countryside. These recent months have proven that we're all part of the fabric of humanity, and this is the time to embrace the part we all play in it. As we move into a new season, let's not allow change to weaken our resolve, but strengthen our commitment to the kind of progress we can all share.
— Gareth Henderson
