Our fellow Kansans struggle around us. But we can help them — and ourselves — by reaching out

Making connections with one another can lighten our heavy burdens, writes columnist Rebecca Phillips. (Getty Images)

I think I have discovered how to survive in today’s society. It’s called drinking lots of iced coffee and listening to my favorite music on the Pandora app on my phone.

I actually do have other ways of coping, and I could list a few.

My younger sister Laura just returned from a race and a girls’ getaway in Charleston, South Carolina. She filmed videos on her phone and shared them through the Marco Polo app. I felt like I was right there with her, enjoying the delicious food and beautiful homes of South Carolina. Yes, I can put family up there on my list of coping strategies: A wonderful family can bring comfort to difficult times.

So many of us have been going through tough times, or at least many people have lately. We can’t escape the latest news. Of course, some of that news is always good. However, if you is glued to TV or a news source on your phone it can be depressing and cause a fire to be lit in your paranoia.

We need relief from dark times. We need hope for the future. We need to know there are people who care — people who care about minorities, about the disabled, about the poor.

When people stop caring, that’s dangerous indeed.

When I think of people who care, I think of former Topeka Rescue Mission executive director and now Compassionate Strategies director Barry Feaker. When I think of someone who is humble and yet a great community leader, he comes to mind. He simply does the right thing. He cares about poor people in our area, and he comes up with new ways to help.

Another person who truly cares is former Valeo CEO Bill Persinger. Of course, Valeo has merged with Family Service and Guidance Center to become Astra Mental Health and Recovery, but Bill Persinger used to lead Valeo. I had the opportunity to talk with him several times over the years, and he cared about helping people with unique challenges. He made friends with all kinds of community partners and had a great smile to share with everyone. People who know Bill know he loves to play bluegrass. He’s an all-around great guy.

Politics has been heavy for everyone.

When I stop to purchase gas for my car, I try to smile at the person in front of me in line. One never knows: They may just feel like giving up. We all feel like giving up sometimes, but we press on.

My grandpa was a minister for 60 years, and he used to always end his conversations with me on the phone by saying: “Stay on the road.” Isn’t that what we need to do when we can’t take any more bad news? Stay on the road. Don’t give up. Keep going. Drink coffee. Listen to music. Go for a walk. Talk with family and friends.

Hate is strong. It is a force. However, kindness and compassion and outrageous hope can shine a stronger light than hate could every manage. Let’s be kind to one another. Let’s enter into our fellow Kansans’ world. We can get out of our favorite living room chair and do some kind deeds. Let’s learn about other people’s lives. Let’s mount a compassion campaign.

It starts with us. The time is now. We can’t give up yet. There is hope.

Rebecca Lyn Phillips is a published author, speaker and mental health advocate. Through its opinion section, the Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.