"Do you know what people really want? Everyone, I mean. Everybody in the world is thinking: I wish there was just one other person I could really talk to, who could really understand me, who'd be kind to me. That's what people really want."
— Doris Lessing
The pandemic, racial tensions, climate crisis, economic predicaments, immigration conflicts are only some of the many aspects of our life today. It is no wonder that we are all more stressed out than usual, unable to connect to another as we are busy taking care of ourselves and have in many ways lost the ability to trust one another or heal together. As the 'Checking In' survey findings show, every one of us has been affected by some of these factors to some degree. The survey also shows how much we all wanted a check-in from someone around us.
Knowing what we know now, we are determined to act. We are therefore launching our 'Checking In' Campaign.
We are asking you to check in with at least one friend, family member, acquaintance, or colleague for this campaign. Spend some time getting to know their lives – their challenges, emotions, and hopes - during these difficult times.
Once you have done so, tell us in about 150 words your experience checking in. You should NOT share the story of the person you checked in with. Instead, tell us your story - what were your emotions and thoughts before, during, and after you checked in? What was your approach? Are you considering any changes to your approach? Was anything about the conversation challenging for you? If you are one of those, who check in regularly with others, share with us a comparative story.
We will publish your story with as much attribution as you like or no attribution. If your story identifies the person you checked in with or tells their story, we might come back to you with a request for anonymity for them. Please use the form below to send us your stories.
We hope that through a collection of Checking In stories, we encourage more people around us to engage in the practice. Sometimes, all we need as humans is a little push, some motivation, and some encouragement.
Write to Us
Share with us your stories!