Why Being With One Another Matters More Than Ever
My daughter making a sign that reads “Just a little love” — Photo by Jackie Colburn
When we lean into our shared humanity, something shifts.
Lately, I keep returning to one question: How can we be with one another?
In a time when it feels like so much is unraveling around us, when fear, tension, and uncertainty hang thick in the air, this question feels more urgent than ever. How do we show up for one another in the hardest moments? What does it look like to offer presence, solidarity, and compassion when there are forces that seem intent on pulling us apart?
Division and isolation are seeping into every corner of our lives. I’ve noticed it even within my own circles. Friends and allies, people who believe in the same causes, finding themselves caught in spirals of disagreement and disconnection. The fear is real. Fight, flight, and freeze are alive in our bodies and in our communities.
And yet, I hold onto hope. Not a passive kind of hope, but one that asks something of us: patience, courage, and a willingness to lean into our shared humanity.
The road ahead is uncertain. The work isn’t done. But can our way forward be emboldened by simply being with one another and is there greater power in making this a conscious choice?
Last week, I sent out my monthly newsletter and shared some reflections on what’s been happening in Minneapolis.
The responses I received came from around the globe, not political, but deeply personal. They weren’t about debating policies or taking sides. They were about connection. Human-to-human. Here are a few:
From Ohio:
"Stay strong, Jackie. I know it’s not much, but many prayers and calming wishes being sent to you & the other residents of Minneapolis from here in Toledo, Ohio. Make sure to take care of yourself, sit with the feelings and don’t try to compress them. Let it out. Minnesota Matters."
From California:
"Thanks so much for sharing this important information. The situation is horrifying, and I am sorry that you and the other residents have to deal with it. I appreciate the local news links. It's so important to get past the noise and false information and to understand what is really happening. Please know that most of us stand with you. From Southern California with my thoughts in Minnesota."
From Switzerland:
"We’re thinking about you guys! This is CRAZY."
From Argentina:
"I want to tell you how much of an inspiration you people are. We thought over the years the USA was the sleepiest society but now it’s 'look at the people in the USA, we should massively go to the streets.' Keep fighting."
These messages remind me that solidarity transcends borders. Empathy doesn’t require proximity. And connection doesn’t always look grand. Sometimes, it looks like a quiet moment of presence. A note. A prayer. A shared breath across time zones.
And here in Minneapolis, I see small acts of care blooming everywhere:
Cards drawn by kids at the corner coffee shop, tucked into food boxes for families in hiding. Messages like "just a little love," "immigrants make America great," and "families belong together."
A woman gathering books and art supplies for kids stuck indoors.
Rides to school, work, and doctor appointments.
Food being gathered, prepped and delivered.
Neighbors checking in.
Educators coordinating at-home learning for kids who can't safely leave their homes.
These are the threads that I see weaving us together when things feel as though they are falling apart.
So again, I return to the question: How can we be with one another more?
Maybe it starts with listening. With reaching out. With remembering that beneath our fear, no matter who we are, is a deep-rooted human longing to be seen and a desire to feel safe.
In uncertain times, we can't and won't have all the answers. But we can choose to be with one another, even when it’s messy, even when we’re scared.
And maybe that’s what changes everything.