On Love:

Pouring from an empty cup doesn’t work. To truly love others requires time, effort, and being aware of our own capacity. I have a close friend named Maddie who gave an incredible talk at a high school leadership camp earlier this month, she spoke about this idea (Click the gif above to watch this section of her talk). She mentioned how flight attendants when giving their safety speech before a flight ask that you put on your own oxygen mask before helping the people around you put on theirs. It’s a beautiful metaphor for life. If we don’t meet our own needs first, we will never be as effective at loving those around us.

On Justice:

I have long been fascinated by the power of storytelling. How a well told story begins to develop empathy within us for the people in the narrative. There is research that supports how a powerful story will even drive us to take action. I believe stories are what break down the perceived barriers of difference that we often put up towards one another. Stories help us to see the humanity in each one of us. In the context of justice, we must be willing to lean into vulnerability and hear the stories of others. Stories are the emotional vehicles that drive action towards justice.

On Generosity:

This past week I finished making 24 revolutions around the sun and it came with some thoughts about where I’m at in life. I’m living in Portland, Oregon pursuing my dream of building a nonprofit. I work for a great organization working to recruit foster families for foster kids across the state. I have a loving family. My friends are pretty dang great. Life is good.

None of this would have been possible without the village who helped me get here. I am standing on the shoulders of giants. The sacrifices of my family, my mentors who’ve invested in me, teachers and professors who believed in me. Without them, with the trauma I accumulated in my childhood, there would have been little hope for my future. So with 24 years on this earth, I am grateful. For every single person who has impacted my life whether they know it or not. I am grateful.

A question for the day:

• Who has been someone who has impacted your life more than anyone else? Do they know that?

Resource of the Week:

• Here’s a sheet of Intentional questions for you. I believe questions are the gateway to deeper relationships with the people around you. At work, at home, or with your friends today, choose one of these questions to ask them.

  • Link to questions

If you know of anyone who might be interested in taking this journey towards more Love, more Justice, and more Generosity in their own life and in the world, please send them this link which will allow them to sign up (or copy and send: https://ljg.beehiiv.com/subscribe).

Thank you for being here.

With Love, Justice, and Generosity,

Michael Larson