Today is a Day Like No Otter

A colleague recently gifted me a card with the delightful pun, “Today is a Day Like No Otter”.  I proudly displayed it on my office door. The otter, a graceful, joyful and light-hearted creature, became a small but meaningful symbol in my daily routine. It reflected my quiet wish that anyone who passed by my office door might catch a moment of laughter, lightness, or peace.

As professor Google tells us, otters are symbols of adaptability, simple joys, and a life lived in balance. Becoming aware of that fact, I felt only right to share my little spark of cheer. I passed the card on to a hospital receptionist, inviting her to replace her usual "Back in 5 minutes" sign when it was not applicable. When she is clearly present it offers her an opportunity  to brighten someone’s day. This was my small way of sharing a little joy with ott-ers.

So may this playful creature serve as a gentle reminder and a chance to share your joy with ott-ers ;).

“Just as the otter finds play in every wave, we should find joy in every moment.”

-Sister Nancy Wales, CSJ

Image: mana5280/Jim @iqsphotographyUnsplash

Good Neighbours

Americans are known for celebrating an almost endless list of national days, each one honoring something special. One such observance is National Good Neighbour Day on September 28th. A Canadian, you might wonder why I am mentioning this. Well, this day reminds me of the bond we Canadians share with our American neighbours just across the border.

I must admit, I am saddened by the recent strain in our relationship. As a border-city kid from Windsor, Ontario, I have always felt a natural kinship with my American neighbours - a closeness that goes beyond geography. I have lasting memories of trips to Boblo Island and the thrill of its Wild Mouse roller coaster, with its sudden quick, sharp turns and that airborne feeling. I remember the shopping day trips to Detroit, Michigan, and the quiet, inner tension built up avoiding the eyes and questions of customs officers.

“Before I built a wall I’d ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offense.
Something there is that doesn’t love a wall,
That wants it down...”
— Robert Frost, Mending Wall

I can’t help but feel saddened by the recent cooling of relations between our two nations. The warm feelings between Canadians and Americans have significantly chilled. National Good Neighbours Day feels like the perfect reminder that, even when politics or bigger issues create distance, the relationships between people living side-by-side can and must remain warm, respectful, and supportive.

Walking in Someone Else’s Shoes

Recently in my inbox, I received a fundraising email from Opportunity International. I get many of these appeals, as many of us do. However, this one stayed with me. Not because of the ask, but because of the insight it offered.

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his/her point of view. Until you climb into his/her skin and walk around in it."

— Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

Opportunity International is a nonprofit organization working to break the cycle of poverty through microfinance and community investment. Their appeal began with a deep human challenge: “Imagine standing in your home with just a few dollars left in your hand. You must choose between buying food for your children or sending them to school.” This was not a hypothetical situation. It was a real dilemma that I now faced.

Opportunity International created an interactive experience called Impossible Decisions.  It invites you step into the shoes of Miriam, mother of three in Northern Ghana. As Miriam, you are asked to make a series of painful choices. Difficult choices in which every option carries a cost. With each decision, you see the consequences, not in abstract terms, but in deep personal, human ones.

The experience does not last long, but it is powerful. You are no longer just an observer of poverty or injustice. For a few minutes, you are the person living it. This brief experience reminded me that for many, the choices agonized over are not between good and bad, but between two bad options. Walking in Mariam’s shoes left me more aware, more humbled, and hopefully, more compassionate.

"When you understand the suffering of another person, that understanding brings compassion and the desire to help."

— Thich Nhat Hanh

If you're looking for a meaningful way to broaden your perspective today, I encourage you to take a few minutes and walk through Impossible Decisions. It will not take long, but I predict it will leave a mark. https://opportunityinternational.ca/impossible-decisions/

You will walk away not just more informed, but more connected. And maybe, like me, with a fuller heart.

-Sister Nancy Wales, CSJ

Image: Saulo Meza/Unsplash