Mitákuye Oyás'i?

Mitákuye Oyás'i? is a Lakota phrase that acknowledges "we are all related." Whether we like it or not, we're kin -- from the mail carrier, grocery clerk, restaurant host, taxi driver, fellow bus riders, plumber, and sports fan to our neighbors, the Earth, and more. In the 17th century John Donne concurred, "no man is an island, no man lives alone."

We are social by nature (even if it's by way of social media rather than personal encounter). Relationships matter, and cultivating healthy relationships takes effort and patience. Getting to know people we may perceive to be "different" from ourselves can seem like an uncomfortable prospect, yet these opportunities to learn about others can yield much-needed avenues for understanding, appreciation, and synergy.

When we listen to others and they listen to us, we begin to discover how much we have in common! Withholding judgement and getting to really know a fellow human, plant, or animal, we can begin to ascertain their valuable roles. Humility enables us to recognize and be inspired by their strengths. Forgiveness frees us from the shackles of anger and hate, making us not only more resilient, but better able to support other suffering souls.

Rejoicing in the good others bring to the world, we are mutually enriched by relationships where respect and love is openly demonstrated through heartfelt words and deeds.