It used to be I could handle most of the nightly news. My finger is poised to hit the button that will take me away to the land of Jeopardy. It’s just too much.Īnd so, I settle down dutifully to watch PBS NewsHour, remote in hand. I cannot tolerate knowing everything that is out there in the news for me to know. I treasure all those experiences and stories, but they come with a price. Whether community members or government lawyers or environmental activists they gave me powerful stories that stay with me.
They taught me how to listen, to respect, to value, to show compassion. Many of them I can still see and hear vividly. Over the decades I have had dozens and dozens of cases, with hundreds and hundreds of people struggling in dire situations. I carry their pain, their fear, their exhaustion with me, and it’s cumulative. Their worlds are threatened and I want desperately to help them find the best possible outcome. Many are under great stress, carrying trauma of all kinds, perhaps suffering ill health, severe economic impacts, maybe even facing the loss of a centuries old culture. My work involves trying to help people who are in conflict find a solution by working together. Jeopardy board - it’s a fun and educational game show, even if it’s an escapeĪctually, I now-in my golden years - realize that’s not true.
