Whatever gets you through
Early yesterday morning, I rode my bicycle up Route 1A in North Hampton towards Rye along the most beautiful stretch of winding coastal road in New England—endless ocean to my right, stately homes and fresh-cut lawns to my left. The salty smell of the sea, the pounding sounds of the waves, and the sparkling sunlight on the water reminded me how grateful I am to be alive and how fleeting and vulnerable our time here is. We are in the midst of a family health scare, waiting for test results and clutching fervently to optimism. To all who have experienced that treacherous road, my heart is with you for I now understand how terrifying the uncertainty can be. While I pedaled and prayed (and yes cried a little too), I found some peace in the realization that my life has been a series of decisions, relationships, and efforts to contribute to the world around me. At that moment on that stretch of road, it seemed the world—so full of light and fresh air and hope—was affirming those efforts back to me. And I was comforted.