Sharing Reflections for tomorrow's Well Keeper, Terry Oftedal:

November 5 is my birthday. I like to celebrate that day with a sense of accomplishment, letting warm memories of people and events from the completed year return, to remind me of my greater purpose and the new cycle beginning.

November 5 is also election day this year in the United States, a day that in recent election cycles has raised fear, anger, and confusion in a great many members of our democracy. I have to remind myself not to wrestle with those emotions. Remind myself that they are dispelled only by expressions of love and kindness, just like darkness disappears when a light is turned on. So I have set an intention for myself to fill this day with acts of love and kindness. I don’t think everyone has to love everyone, I don’t even know everyone personally. What I can do is see in each moment opportunities presenting themselves to me. I can open a door for someone. I can pause to let that other driver turn in front of me. I can make coffee for someone. I can allow kindness to fill my words. As someone comes into my consciousness, I can send warm thoughts and energy not only to them but to the all that is beyond. Sometimes when I do this I can actually feel waves of stillness flowing outward through me.

I once had a vision that if every person in our world were to simultaneously perform an act of kindness, an energy would be released so powerful that the world and everyone in it would be transformed in a way beyond my ability to imagine. I would have to be one of those persons, so I am motivated to play my part every day, believing that today could be that day.

As I stand vigil this day at the well of wisdom and understanding, on behalf of all of you, I anticipate feeling your presence. I am honored to take the lead on this day. Kindness, again and again. Again and again.