This picture was taken in the Holy Land when I served in the capacity of Deputy Secretary-General of the Baha'i International Community at the Baha'i World Centre.

During my time there, I learned about the importance of the Power of Love: not only on paper but in reality, not only with religious (or not) people, politicians, journalists, activists, young people, or locals but with everyone, women, men and children alike.

We could have focused on our differences and yet... we looked elsewhere. We found ways to work together because we purposefully chose to focus on what united us not what divided us... through respect, cooperation, and often meaningful friendships. 

Today, Love is the only remedy that can bind our hearts together and teach us that should any difference arise amongst us, we can work on it for "We are far more united and have far more in common than that which divide us." (Jo Cox) 

To focus on what we love and what unite us make us surpass the goals we initially set and overcome the toughest challenges. 

Unity- Togetherness is the mean to reciprocity and cooperation between people, regions, and nations. It nurtures friendship and trust and destroys bullying, fears and doubts. 

Now, we must read one's reality, to assess how to best use this powerful instrument, and to build a "NETLOVE" in a practical and uplifting way, so one can transform as well as transform his/her/their environment for the betterment of all.

Realism - and Pragmatism - are good, however, they should not be confused with cynicism and extreme relativism. Pragmatism must be married with Optimism. Today, we look at the glass half empty, but could we purposefully focus on the glass half full too? Today, we can see many walls, but could we purposefully focus on building bridges as well? Could we ask ourselves what are the capacities, skills, and attitudes we, humans, need to acquire to build a world with more peace, justice and equality for all? Who will be creative enough to be at the vanguard of a new world founded upon HOPE not despair? 

There is never one way to read the reality we live in. And everyone should feel welcome to share their insights, their opinions, for Truth comes from the clashes of opinions. There is ONE undeniable Truth however: 

that we, humans, are all endowed with dignity and rights, with a conscience which, when dedicated to serving our needs and the needs of the people we live with, through cooperation and unity, not without its own challenges, of course, we can still strive to be "prosperous"...which we can become beyond any expectations, and beyond our wildest dreams, for ourselves and for the next generations to come!

Carmel Irandoust