One important thing the past several months has highlighted for me is the enormous power of listening.  Whatever our differences, all of us in this world constitute one people.  The decisions we make about wearing masks or not, social distancing or not, staying at home or not, going to in-person school or not, etc. – all of these decisions affect our family, friends, neighbors and the larger community. And yet the paths we have chosen for ourselves are not necessarily the paths that everyone has chosen.  As I have reached out to support friends and family, it has been very clear that the decisions we all have had to make are truly difficult as they are based not solely on societal needs but on personal needs as well; and everyone has needed a listening ear and kindness more than ever as we have explored the choices. I have always known that truly listening to one another Is critical, and this COVID era has demonstrated that fact once again. For through listening, we bring comfort, we bring clarity, and we learn.