Who Do You Turn To When You’re Scared?

Yesterday marked another day of terror on this planet. Specifically, it happened 50 miles from where I sit and type. A 29-year-old man, maybe functioning as a ’lone wolf’ terrorized New Yorkers and tourists. He killed eight people and injured 12 or more by plowing them down with a rented truck on a walking/bike path in lower Manhattan’s west side. On Halloween; a time when it’s likely more families are walking around the City. Families with kids in tow.

The moment I got the awful alert on my phone I reached out to my A-team - my adult kids and husband - to make sure they were safe. After receiving those reassurances I immediately felt deep sadness for those who were not safe - and for their families around the globe. They have A-teams too, and for them yesterday was a nightmare.

Who do we care about most and focus on when the world is scary? People for whom we have the safest relationships. People we know will return our text, take our call, and listen to our fears. People we want to hold tight.

I work hard to help people identify, cultivate, and cherish those special relationships. We don’t need a lot of them, but we need them on the best of days, and like yesterday, on the worst of days.

Who are your special people? Are you nurturing and growing your relationships with them or do you need help? Have you neglected your most important relationships and are you ready to make changes?   We all need help sometimes.