Make Life Better for Others

Robin Botie of Ithaca, New York, Photoshops a friend who went to Nepal to build shelters for earthquake victimsOkay. This is the situation: My friend Nicole is in Nepal helping to build shelters for earthquake victims. In her blog, she wrote about a platter of flowers, “red tika that the elder blessed and smudged on our foreheads.” For much of the past week I carried in my head an image of Nicole amid the ruins with tika. I spent so much time trying to make it visible through Photo-shopping that I’m running late. If I sit here writing, I won’t be able to visit two other friends in two different nursing homes today. I won’t be able to finish the photo project I’m working on for a bereaved mother I met online.

So I’m leaving you to fill in the blanks, connect the thoughts. Young Nicole following her heart and reaching out to strangers across the world whose lives have been devastated, the villages in Lalit Pur where they lost 95% of their infrastructure yet still found red flowers to give that symbolize gratitude and long life, and my own small efforts to make life better for others.

All I wanted to say is, we need to take care of each other. We give what we can. And if you’re feeling lonely or directionless, or you think your life is in ruins, go help someone else. It may make you feel like you’ve been blessed with red flowers.

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12 thoughts on “Make Life Better for Others

  1. Emily Clay

    Thank you for being there Nicole, and taking time to include others in your generous spirit via like-minded Robin!

    Reply
    1. Robin Botie Post author

      Thank you so much, Emily. I guess it all comes down to being generous, like you said. You give what you can, like I said. And we all benefit from these efforts. Cheers to you.

      Reply
  2. Elaine Mansfield

    Your image is quite magical, Robin. And the message, too. Somehow in the midst of all the chaos, we have to find those red flower moments and hold them tight.
    Sending you love.

    Reply
  3. Lucy Bergström

    I think your loss has opened you up to not just the suffering but the kindness in the world. Your ”imperfect” image of Nicole is perfect.

    Reply
    1. Robin Botie Post author

      Thank you, Lucy. Yeah, gotta remember the kindness. Remember kindness, kindness, kindness. Because it’s very easy to just see the suffering.

      Reply
  4. Kimberly ryan

    We hear this so many times from bereaved parents. To come to a place where you can offer yourself after being through such a life changing experience can be incredibly healing and can bring a sense of purpose, something we find ourselves looking for when our very foundation is shattered from under us.

    Reply
    1. Robin Botie Post author

      And thank YOU, Kimberly, because you learned that lesson long ago and now give so much of yourself. Having a sense of purpose, when there seems to be no sense in what life has thrown at you, really helps.

      Reply
  5. Carole LaTour

    So very true Robin. Reaching out to others sustains me. Your blogs do the same. Affirmation. Thank you Robin.

    Reply
    1. Robin Botie Post author

      That is so kind of you, Carole. Many thanks. I feel affirmed and sustained and generally thrilled every time you respond. Hope to catch you in person again sometime. Cheers!

      Reply

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