Birds, Book Club, and Reflecting Love in a Topsy Turvy World

On reflecting

“But what if I don’t like what I see?” asked bird.

“Then, change,” replied bear. “Change.”

…

Mobiles: Two Red Moons in reflective white and metal (4’ x 2’ each)

…

To be seen.

To be held.

To be heard.

To be comforted.

To be in community.

To not have to make apologies.

To be accepted for who you are.

To have your pain and loss validated.

Stephanie Harrison, founder of The New Happy and author of “New Happy: Getting Happiness Right in a World That’s Got It Wrong,” kicked off her five-week virtual book club this week.

200+ folks came together from all around the world to discuss how Old Happy, that belief that happiness is a result of achievement, perfection, and material gain, had impacted their lives.

The stories of loss, and grief, and loneliness were so powerful, so hard to hear. There is so much pain in our world.

And yet to see this patchwork community shower those who shared their stories with love, with support, with words of encouragement was absolutely extraordinary.

You are loved.

You are safe.

You are okay.

We are in this together.

These messages – in one way or another – were repeated over and over again, by Stephanie, by those in the book club.

It was beautiful.

To see such grace and compassion reflected back to total strangers was a gift to experience.

First, you are loved, you are safe, you are okay to be who you are, and – yes – we are in this together.

Then, who can you share these words with today to let them know they are not alone?

Speaking of reflections, these two mobiles were commissioned by a collector in Bryan, TX, who has tried everything to keep birds from flying into her windows. She felt a great sense of loss and responsibility as she witnessed these little beings losing their lives. After trying many other deterrents, she’s hopeful these large, shiny mobiles will break up the glass reflections enough to keep the local and migrating birds safe.