3 minute read
A LETTER FROM MIRY
A LETTER FROM MIRY
“We and the moon are neighbors”
– Fairuz
Hello friend! Miry here, founder & executive director of Miry’s List.
Everybody we have ever known lives on a spinning rock in an endless ocean of nothing orbiting a fireball. We are tiny, temporary beings who spend our moments bouncing between survival and contentment. If we are lucky, we connect with others who see us during our precious time on the spinning rock. Not just physically, but really see us. Someone who understands our life experience, the lens through which we see the world.
As my friend Brian Stefan, a grief counselor, says, “The opposite of grief is not ‘no grief.’ The opposite of grief is connection.” The lines that connect your heart to mine. Those connections are the power to notice, bear witness, and accept someone just as they are: imperfect and changing. All 7.8 billion people on planet Earth, everyone in history who’s ever breathed air, and everyone who will exist in the future face difficult emotions. This shared experience ties us together as humans: Managing a full range of feelings. Our connections to one another allow us to face the pain that life brings us.
Through Miry’s List, I’ve learned that every ounce of compassion I find for myself becomes two ounces of compassion and understanding I can have for somebody else. In this way, when we care for ourselves, we also care for the whole world.
I’ve also learned that one of the most important points for people to understand about resettling refugees is this: Though the refugee crisis is happening globally, resettling families in our communities is a local issue that each of us has the opportunity to participate in, and positively impact. Imagine the global impact we’ll have when we move the focus from the scale of the crisis into the mindset of “How can I help the families resettling in my neighborhood?”
Miry’s List is committed to supporting and assisting refugees who have fled their homes due to conflict, persecution, and violence. As we look to the future, we envision a world where resettling refugees have access to the resources and support system we all need when facing hard times. We’ve developed a plan, goals, objectives, and strategies to achieve this vision. But these are just a small part of what’s necessary to realize our vision. What we need more than anything else to make our ideas into reality is connection and friendship. Be with us. Stand by our sides. Show up with your time, talent, and treasure. Be the smiling person in the room. Be the strong leader your community and family need.
To the Miry’s List families who have bravely jumped into the unknown: I am so proud of you. You have taken courageous action toward advocating for yourself and your family. It takes emotional fortitude to look after your well-being. I am impressed by you. When you arrived with your family in the United States, you entered a new chapter in your life, filled with new adventures, memories, and relationships. Know that we are people who care about your future. We are your cheerleaders, your pals, and your extended family. Wherever you go, as you grow and achieve and learn and share your light and brilliance with the world, we are here for you, and we are proud to know you and have a part in your life.
May you always remember to love yourself like a dear friend. You deserve it. Thank you for your friendship.
