One male did not end millions of people in the 1940’s in Europe. The more difficult reality is that regular people like you and me each made the decision to turn on their neighbors. And neighbor ended neighbor. Neighbor gave up information about neighbor.

The heart-breaking reality is that probably millions of people participated in those atrocities. There were people along every step of the way that could have stopped what was happening. But they didn’t. Each one chose to participate. Each one watched their neighbor go by and onto what awaited them. And did nothing.

Maybe it was initially primarily about envy. Maybe even survival. But each person had to make a decision in their mind to find a reason to betray another human being. Each person reached a point where they decided to dehumanize their neighbor and judge them as worthy or not.

It’s easier to swallow as a society if we blame all of that on one male. But that’s not accurate or even possible. Not millions of people.

And I wasn’t there. I’m sure there was duress. But it started somewhere. With someone who decided to support this male. And do the worst thing to one of their neighbors. And others didn’t put an end to it.

When will it stop? What is your limit? When will you put an end to what was passed down to you?

Will you be the one to courageously stand up and say this bullshit stops with me? Will you be the one to stand up and not pass on the hurt that was passed onto you?

Or are you okay taking it out on your neighbor? Your family member? Have you already dehumanized them and judged them unworthy?

We don’t hold each other accountable because it’s difficult. It challenges us. It is very uncomfortable. And it requires us to quit distracting ourselves, open our hearts, and fully engage.

But these issues aren’t going to magically go away on their own. Love is in the business of continually drawing us to our healing. We get to spend all our time fighting against really ourselves. Or not.

We can choose to stop the madness. Stand up and really face all that is happening.

And decide it stops with me. That’s the only way this is all going to get better. We could have the healing and wholeness we say we desire if we all woke up and wanted it bad enough.

But it’s not going to happen if we are waiting on someone else to make the first move and do the work. It’s not going to happen if we want to keep putting our lives on cruise control. Focusing on everyone else except ourselves.

Overwhelming, absolutely. But that’s the point. This has all become way too much.

Tomorrow starts with one decision today. One thing done differently. Start where you are now. As small as it takes. The big picture is not your problem. What is currently in front of you is where it matters.

We will continue to go through crisis after crisis of healing. Until we choose love. Until we choose to really step in and own this human experience we’ve been given. Collectively and individually.

It’s not too late. Just as one person can influence the world for the worst, one can spark change for the better. We are part of each other. Can you imagine how things would change if we all woke up?

What about you? What about today? What do you want? What will be your legacy?