What's On Your Mind

Scene: Sitting inside in an armchair with a cup of herbal tea, while outside it is 39 degrees and snowing.  The script is contemplative and more personal as to my own frame of mind in this more chaotic state of being of our society. 

Script

What’s on your mind?  This is the daily question I encounter when I pull up Facebook in order to read what others have posted randomly throughout their day; and yet as I sit here typing I cannot help but feel that it is nothing more than an endless puzzle.  A Mobius strip that goes in a loop back in on its self.  How can I simply answer a question such as this when I, myself, have no concrete answer from one hour to the next?  Shall I talk about cats?  Politics?  Truthfully I rather not talk about politics. 

Everywhere I look I see negativity.  I will tell you a secret.  I avoid the news.  The state of humanity as a whole and what we feel the need to report, or maybe it is the sensationalism that accompanies the journalism makes me sad.  I could care less about Kayne West, or Kim Kardashian.  I do not care who marries whom or why someone did something on Twitter. 

So what is on my mind?  Maybe I need to see something positive. A reminder, that amongst all that we have going on in this crazy, insane world, there is still good.  Am I a believer in religion?  Not by choice.  Do I discourage others from believing?  Not at all.  Who or what you choose to believe in is your choice.  Believe in gummy bears if it makes you feel good.  If it can make you walk up to someone who needs help just by opening a door for them, do so.  Remember what it means to be human.  Look around you.  Give someone passing you a smile.  Did it hurt? 

This is what is on my mind; the idea that we as humans are so quick to judge, and less quick to forgive and understand.  Remember when the holidays were not about Black Friday or commercialism.  They were about families and friends.  They were about putting aside differences and reaching out to show someone you care.  Let’s care once more.

Extra:

The following poem was not added due to time limit, but has been added to the script.

Yes We Can! - Shannon Mulstay

When the world watched the birth of a nation and wondered, the people of this new nation looked over the blanket of snow with freedom lighting their eyes and their hearts screamed "Yes We Can!"

When civil unrest split the young country in two the world looked and wondered "Will they survive?" The people turned to each other, stopped fighting, and once more became one stating "Yes We Can!"

When the call to move westward flowed over this nation, the world watched and wondered "Will they achieve?" The people settled in wagons and moved forward with fists raised high "Yes We Can!"

When war came to the world, not once but twice, the world stopped and wondered "Can they lead us to freedom" The American People stood strong and proud, the light of freedom, that in the past shown so brilliantly in their ancestors eyes, now in theirs as they stared the enemy in the face and announced with determination "Yes We Can!"

When a man stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and declared he had a dream of equality for mankind in this glorious nation, the world paused and wondered "Can they succeed?" The people of this nation smiled with friendship, compassion, humility, and integrity to its neighbor and said "Yes We Can"

When the Twin Towers fell to the greed and illogical ideals of others the heart of America was struck cold. The world stopped and wondered "Can they go on?" The American People's hearts wept, but the light of freedom and unity as they held one another showed once more. With fierce determination and conviction the American People looked to the world and declared with defiance "Yes We Can!"

Now with the sweeping economic crisis, global warming, reformation, political uncertainty, military unrest in the Middle East the world stops and listens as the question pours forth from so many uncertain hearts "Can we stop the hate and learn to care about our fellow man once more?” My answer is a single voice echoing the voice of a nation. "Yes We Can!"