On my birthday, October 7th… I was full of gratitude, celebrating life at a music festival in Texas.

On my birthday, October 7th… I was full of grief, mourning death at a music festival in Israel.

How is it possible to feel so immensely blessed and devastatingly heartbroken at the same time?

One moment, I’m in awe from the love and beauty that surrounds me…

And the next moment, all the hate and ugliness has brought me to my knees.

When I focus too long on the pleasures,

I feel guilty for ignoring the pain…

But only focusing on the pain is slowly driving me insane.

This pendulum swinging can’t be good for me.

So then – how can I find peace and equanimity?

Maybe this is just how life is supposed to be.

The full spectrum of emotions gives life depth and dimensionality.

They say that higher we climb, the harder we fall.

But what if that’s just the whole point of it all?

Maybe we’re supposed to feel our feelings, and feel without shame.

Maybe seeing beyond duality is the object of the game.

Maybe there’s some truth in every perspective.

Maybe we’re still learning what love and respect is.

Maybe we’re meant to break out of boxes and borders,

Maybe we’ll start questioning the ones giving us orders.

Maybe we’ll see beyond boundaries and nations.

And finally shift to a higher vibration.

If we could Dream with Dr. King, and “Heal the World” with the King of Pop, we’d show Tupac that things can Change, and Edwin Starr’s “War” would finally stop.

If we could “Imagine” with Lennon, and envision Marley’s “One Love,”

We’ll see that when Humanity is united – there’s nothing that we can’t rise above.