By Roxanne Joffe
“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” Nelson Mandela
Love and Be Loved
As I write this blog, I am aware that my own upbringing and set of circumstances led me to the Process that ultimately put me in a room with others who, like me, wanted to be free of negative patterns. Each one of us taking the Process were motivated by our personal quest to live a fulfilling and authentic life. I knew that, on some level, I had to love myself before I could truly love and be loved by others. Although we were aware of each other’s pain, we were focused on our own healing; separated by our unique paths but with a common destination.
After a week filled with raw emotions, pain and subsequent healing, my sense of self, as well as my worldview, had changed forever. One evening near the end of the week, we all lay in a circle holding hands. The room was dark other than twinkling stars on the ceiling transporting us into the vastness of the cosmos. The aspirational lyrics of John Lennon’s “Imagine” surrounded us. I knew that in learning to connect with ourselves, we were able to connect with each other and consequently with the oneness of the universe.
Imagine
Thinking back on this moment now, in a time when we are once again facing the insidiousness of racist, oppressive systems that destroy and kill people’s lives, this snapshot of stars twinkling above and the words “Imagine all the people living life in peace” resounds in my head. I am moved to call on all of us to act – the time is always right to do right.
The circumstances of what we’re witnessing right now is a movement toward good led by the unheard and, in many cases, championed by those who care. I see the anger as a cry of anguish that has resonated over decades of injustice, as those in power silence the voices of individuals eager to stand up for what is right.
Create A History That Is Never Repeated
I left South Africa and came to the United States to afford myself and my children the American dream. Now I’m watching as my children and grandchildren grow up experiencing the anguish and injustice I did. For my great-grandchildren, I want these moments to become part of a history that is never repeated again.
I believe that empathy and compassion are at the core of every human with the desire to do good and make a difference. Each of us holds a core truth — a passion that inspires us to take meaningful action, and a dedication to achieving the greater good.
This moment must be met by all of us collectively for real change to occur. It’s on all of us to open our hearts and minds to the reality of others and listen to their experiences. We must unify our voice and work together toward the common goal of enacting change.
Now Is the Time…
At the end of Process, we all claimed what we wanted to take with us into the world.
NOW is the time for each of us to claim our boldness, truth, light, authenticity, compassion for the rest of the world.
Now is the time to act on the seething rage.
Now is the time to embrace our humanity.
Now is the time to meet on common ground.
Now is the time to challenge the status quo.
Now is the time to pave a hopeful future for our children and the generations to come.
It is the right time to do right. Let us join hands and imagine all the people living life in peace. Let us love ourselves, love others, and be loved.
Hoffman grad Roxanne Joffe is a dynamic entrepreneur, business leader, and president and founder of MagnifyGood. With more than 20 years of entrepreneurial experience in fashion design, brand marketing and communications, Roxanne knows the importance of work-life balance. Roxanne’s life experiences have taught her that living a truly meaningful life is to own your power.