The “Be a Better Human” Challenge

I’ve been stuck—lost in the depths of hopelessness. Friend’s Facebook posts, news articles, and even my own thoughts have felt like booby traps, keeping me despairing and weighed down. My only escape hatch has been imagining a fantastical move to Portugal, Finland, or some other dramatic dismantling of who I am, who others are, or how the world around me operates.

But recently, I heard a talk at a Unitarian Universalist church and followed it up with a podcast recommendation: Greg Boyle, a Catholic priest in Los Angeles and founder of Homeboy Industries—the world’s largest gang-member intervention program. His words, full of depth and humanity, struck a chord and made me rethink my approach. (Here’s the podcast link if you’re curious: Greg Boyle on Cherished Belonging.)

Boyle spoke about a 180-day training program to foster healthy attachment and belonging. It made me pause. What if I did the same? What if, every day for 180 days, I intentionally saw myself and others as connected? What if I deeply believed that we’re in this together and made it my mission to act on that belief, to heal my own brokenness while creating space for others to heal, too?

How I’ve been handling things—shaking my fists at the clouds, bracing for the next hit—hasn’t been working. So, I’m throwing down my armor, my weapons, and my hardest edges. I’m choosing curiosity over defensiveness, connection over disconnection. I’m committing to actions that center shared humanity, that foster belonging.

In January, I’ll be joining a book club focused on Cherished Belonging: The Healing Power of Love in Divided Times. I’m also tuning in to the “How to Be a Better Human” podcast, which explores unexpected ways to improve how we show up for one another.

To start with I’m getting my news here: https://www.allsides.com/unbiased-balanced-news, and plan to spend ten minutes a day, and only ten minutes doing so. Their mission is: “We expose people to information and ideas from all sides of the political spectrum so they can better understand the world — and each other.”

For the next 180 days, I’m all in—learning, growing, and committing to actions that chip away at fear, hate, and hiding. Join me if it speaks to you.

Love,
Jaclynn