“We all have our own life to pursue, our own kind of dream to be weaving, and we all have the power to make wishes come true, as long as we keep believing.” – Louisa May Alcott
It’s just a tiny waterfall, but from such are mighty rivers created. — Photo by Pat Bean
There’s nothing wrong with a bit of wishful thinking. I came across that phrase in a book I was reading way back in 1980. Back then my wishful thoughts were mostly centered on finding my one true soulmate, which I spent many years unsuccessfully searching for.
It sounds more fun to call myself artist-in-residence than in-isolation during these stormy times. — Art by Pat Bean
Today, especially in these times but also in the ones leading up to them, my wishful thinking has been for world peace. It’s a topic that has been at the forefront of my wishful thinking ever since I realized that I had to be my own special soulmate.
As a realist, I sadly acknowledge that world peace won’t come in my lifetime, if ever. Not when we live in a world divided by borders, colors, beliefs, languages and hopes and dreams.
It won’t come, at least the way I see it — and which I do understand may not be the only way to see the world — until this planet’s residents all see themselves as one race: Human Beings.
This is not a new thought to me. It’s one that I have long thought about, and in my own rebellious way have acted on. Whenever I have come across a request to identify my ethnicity, I have marked the “other” box, and wrote in “human.”
It’s exactly what I did when I filled out the short online 2020 Census yesterday. World peace has to start somewhere.
If not me, then who? If not now, then when?
Blog pick of the day.
Bean Pat: To all humans, around the world, who are doing their part, be it nursing the sick or staying isolated in an effort to get us through these hard times. I have family members in both categories, including a granddaughter who is a nurse and a grandson who has lost his income because his job is not considered essential. Personally, I thank the woman who put a load of groceries in my trunk that I had ordered for pickup at Walmart yesterday. We stayed socially distanced, with her signing my receipt. I thanked her for her service and she thanked me for her job. It was enough to put tears in my eyes.
Pat Bean is a retired journalist who lives in Tucson with her canine companion, Scamp. She is a wondering-wanderer, avid reader, enthusiastic birder, Lonely Planet Community Pathfinder, Story Circle Network board member, author of Travels with Maggie available on Amazon, and is always searching for life’s silver lining.
Pat Bean's blog 
Reading your experience at Walmart brought tears to my eyes Pat. As you say, we should respect each other in this way because we are human.
I need to check k that box. I’ve long said I’m a humanist. That’s it. The other stuff gets complicated.
I haven’been reading blogs for a while, and I apologize for that; I’ve always enjoyed yours. When I read the title of this one, I thought it meant you refused to participate in the census. That didn’t sound right, and I was set to beg you to sign up so you would be represented but now there’s no need. As I said, I really didn’t think you would rebel that way. And human is good. It’s all anyone needs to know. As for peace–I read that it’s easier to beat your plowshares into swords than swords into plowshares, and that’s certainly true.
I hope all the best for your family members. And to all who take care of the rest of us. Everybody is essential one way or another. We haven’t figured that out either.
Stay well. A pat, or a stroke if he prefers that, to Scamp. I’m sure he’s a comfort. My cats drape themselves across me but aren’t schooled in sympathizing with a couple sheltering in place. But they’re cats.
I love this. Yay, Louisa! Yay, you, for writing this.
I may have to co-op the -in-residence idea. I’ll give you credit. Our writing group we are all now writers-in-residence. Stay safe, Virtual hugs, Ethel Ethel Lee-Miller Tucson Arizona USA Author: Seedlings, Stories of Relationships; Thinking of Miller Place: A Memoir of Summer Comfort
“words are powerful”
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Well written article!!!!
I would like to order a 3 signed copies of your book , if is what I can do to be socially distancing since I don’t live near you. Love ❤️ you, -Martina