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 By Pamme Boutselis From the time I was a small kid, I had a sense there was a far bigger world than the one I was seeing in my suburban Massachusetts town. Sure, I’d catch a glimpse of it on TV, whether it was through “The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau” or maybe even “Daktari” (my favorite show), but over time it was books that broadened my lens into how different and alike people and their stories could be–yet completely unique at the same time. In elementary school, I became a Campfire Girl, and had an opportunity to go to an international fair in Boston on a troop field trip. That one day, filled with song, dance, languages, food and drink beyond anything I had experienced before, made an impact on me and fueled a desire to learn as much as I could about people and cultures globally. When the niece of a Scottish woman I babysat for was looking for a penpal in the U.S., you can bet I expressed my interest immediately–how I cherished that correspondence. I loved telling my mom about all the things I was learning through my penpal’s letters. I still remember my delight when I received a small bottle of heather-scented perfume from my penpal, along with beautiful, delicately embroidered handkerchiefs bearing heather buds. Looking back, it’s no surprise really that I would become a writer–and one that most enjoyed hearing people’s stories and having the chance to share them across many types of publications and platforms. The thrill has never worn off, nor has my desire to learn about people worldwide and their lives. It’s one of the things that drew me to Global Citizens Circle and its mission and work. I had written this past spring about the role GCC played in April 2020 in allowing me to understand the full effect of the pandemic through a virtual circle that offered a glimpse of what we were all experiencing and how it affected our families, our communities, and our countries. I embraced the shared humanity of that difficult, frightening time and found solace in our global connection. While the virtual component of that circle was a first for GCC, it created a way for us to move forward virtually to many more circles. In the five years since, these virtual circles have helped us face uncertainties, conflict, issues, and challenges with a global perspective and connection to others that wouldn’t be possible for most of us otherwise. Like so many, I am deeply troubled by much of what’s going on both domestically in the U.S. and throughout the world. I grapple at times with finding and holding onto hope in such precarious times. GCC is a purveyor of hope in all that it does but it’s up to each of us to also sow the seeds of hope wherever we can to help lift others and create connections that matter. An activity that has not only brought me hope, but also a fair amount of joy, over the past few months is a global project called Postcrossing. The premise is simple; participants send and receive postcards throughout the globe. This project was started by a young man back in 2005, as a student in Portugal, who had an interest in connecting and communicating with others beyond his immediate world. This past spring, I was teaching a feature writing course. One of the first assignments required students to write a story, the topic of their own choosing, which they would write and pitch to a publication. While the topics broached were all good, one especially caught my eye–someone who had been participating for some time with Postcrossing wanted to tell its story. Suddenly, I was that young girl again, excited by the possibilities of new connections and the opportunity to learn about people across so many countries.. So, I gave it a whirl and what a pleasure it has been to engage with people from all over. Thus far, I’ve sent two dozen postcards out and received 25 from16 countries. Each postcard is registered upon receipt and it allows us to send a note to the sender and connect a bit more. And you might wonder, how much can you really learn in such brief correspondence? Turns out a lot. I have the chance to read biographical info offered up by the Postcrossing member before I send a postcard, and sometimes a bit more when they receive it. For those who send me postcards, I hear about where they live, often accompanied by highlights about that region. People will share details about their families, their pets, their travels, their aspirations, and what’s happening in their world. No matter where the postcard comes from, there are commonalities: joy in connection, the desire to have others know something about them and, often, what they love to do, whether it’s travel, volunteering, hobbies, their work or time with their families. They admit to frailty, from physical ailments or serious illnesses to the effects of aging. There is tremendous pride in where they live, and what’s special about that locale. Some choose specific postcard designs that are meaningful to them or showcase their country or local interests and culture, along with stamps that tell something about their country and its history. It’s those commonalities that allow me to further recognize how much humanity we share–and that no matter where someone is, we all have built lives that matter in so many ways and have people we love deeply around us. And when I see atrocities, natural disasters, and conflict in various areas of the world, immediately I think of the folks I’ve come to know in those places and consider the effect on them and so many others, deepening my empathy, care and desire to help. I see so many parallels to GCC and the communities and people I’ve come to know through its work. And all of this gives me hope, not just for myself but for others throughout the world too. This is important. In the words of the late Dr. Maya Angelou, "It's very hard to hate someone if you look them in the eye and recognize them as a human being.” While I am not a person that ever holds hate in my heart, I see the vitriol spewed by too many these ays. Despite our differences, the friction between so many, if we can find a way to connect, to learn about people, and see them and their lives through that very human lens, imagine the connection and conversation that can ensue. I’m hopeful for that possibility. Pamme Boutselis is an award-winning writer and content producer, currently serving as a senior director of content marketing and a communication adjunct at Southern New Hampshire University. She loves hearing and sharing stories. As a writer spanning a 25-plus-year career, her work has been featured in print and online via news media, career and education-focused blogs, regional magazines, technology publications and more. A serial volunteer, Boutselis has been a TEDx organizer since 2013 and a speaker coach. She’s been fortunate to work with dozens of nonprofits throughout the years and serves as a communication advisor for Global Citizens Circle. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Please note: Each week, we invite members of the greater Global Citizens Circle community to contribute to GCC Voices. The views and opinions expressed in each blog post are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Global Citizens Circle. It's very hard to hate someone if you look them in the eye and recognize them as a human being."
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