The theme for the month of April is Children's books. Why? Because April is Childhood Abuse and Childhood Sexual Abuse awareness month. We need to fight for our children and protect them. What better way than to empower them with hope and light from good books? They need hope to change the world!
Guest Blog – Shane Svorec
Author of “The Busy Bridge That Got Its Break”
The Busy Bridge That Got Its Break
Have you ever driven somewhere (usually a frequent and familiar path), zoned out, and realized when you arrived that you don’t remember much of your trip? Perhaps you were lost in thought, music, or a situation? You were safe, cautious, and aware but on auto-pilot.
How many details of your daily routine do you notice and remember?
When you stop for coffee or to fill up with gas at your regular spots, do you know the names of the people assisting you? Do you know anything about their lives or how their day is going? Or is it just “Good Morning, the usual, please”?
We live in a world where it’s normal to be busy, preoccupied, and distracted, and as a result, we often overlook the details of the day. The color of the sky, the circumstances of the people we pass on the street, the bus driver’s name, the exhaustion of a fellow parent, or the suffering of the person slowly shuffling in front of us all a blur. We are on auto-pilot - focused on our destination, not the details or matters found along the way.
Now, I’m not saying we must engage with everyone and notice everything; however, I believe it’s important to call attention to how much we miss. My childhood was unconventional- we traveled the country living in a VW bus. Consequently, my favorite pastime was watching the world around me.
Observations
I loved observing people and noticed the little things others seemed to miss. I made it a habit to seek things that would bring me joy and distract me from painful circumstances and experiences. This practice forced me to find beauty and meaning every day and taught me to see people and their circumstances, see beyond a smile, and recognize the pain or struggle beneath them.
The overarching message in my book is one I hoped would be a helpful reminder today: that we don't notice things or truly see people until they break down. We spend our days racing from here to there, checking off items on our to-do lists that we miss "cracks," we miss opportunities to chat, offer a smile, and we ignore signs of wear and tear in people and places and tell ourselves to keep going or that it's not our problem. The issue with this is that we are losing connection. At a time when we are more technologically connected than ever before, we are less connected emotionally.
Various things and people in our daily routine have become invisible (or may feel invisible) because we are on auto-pilot and don't always pay attention until a break alerts us to a problem. Yet, if we slowed down, took more notice, and showed more care, we would see that many things are breaking now and need our attention, including communities, families, and individuals of all ages and walks of life. Communication and human connection are breaking down, and our daily attention and navigation turn to auto-pilot mode.
The Busy Bridge That Got Its Break
"The Busy Bridge That Got Its Break” is a children’s book written for readers of all ages. It’s a reminder to slow down, take a breath, and discover the beauty and needs that are often overlooked in humanity. It’s a call to action and a heartwarming reminder that we all carry heavy things and need a little attention and support. We are all bridges in some sense, carrying things that may be invisible to others but are important to us.
In its simplicity, the message within my book illustrates how a simple smile can change someone’s day, and a good friend can change someone’s life. As we go through our days following our routines, may the message found in “The Busy Bridge That Got Its Break” be a reminder of how significant our actions are and that our awareness of the world and the people around us is a conscious choice that will lead us to a more empathetic, connected, and positive world.
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