Throughout our bodies there are amazing systems of self-repair, of maintenance and healing. When we experience a scratch, histamine floods the area, bringing specialized cells that create a criss-cross scaffolding for other cells to do their work, to grow new skin. In the brain there are cells, glial cells, that make sure the other cells are okay, fixing them and giving them what they need. Every time we sneeze or cough, there is microscopic damage that is immediately repaired¹ in a flurry of activity, as beautiful and complex, as it is invisible. Imagine if one were to lose these apparatus. How long would we last? At the end of the day, we are only as good as our ability to heal.

Most of what I learned being homeless for a year, is of little to no use in my life since, as these were struggles unworthy of a person. However, one lesson I find invaluable. Every night when we get in bed, and feel our blankets, and hear the familiar sounds of home, we begin healing from all the tiny physical and psychic injuries we incurred throughout the day. With deep enough rest, we heal from long-term injuries suffered even in youth. When a person doesn’t have that, they unravel.

The people of Gaza, and most desperately the children, are in need of a place to heal. They’ve no homes, no quiet place. Bombs punctuate the constant buzzing of drones, in conditions where privacy does not exist.

But there is play, at least for the hundreds of students in the tents of Gaza Great Minds. There, there are healing colors, the presence of loving teachers and fellow children. They watch movies. They color and draw. They smile and even laugh, sometimes for the first time in far too long. There is even a small private tent for children to work through their feelings, with the help of professional therapists. The children need this most of all, but these are things we all need, if we are to be at our best.

And please leave a comment below!

• You can follow Tony on Twitter. Tony Live Tweets during spaces to share with the world the information from Gaza.
• You can also search #WeWillReadAgain to find his threaded tweets from past spaces.
• You can help GGM’s ongoing efforts for the children of Gaza. Check out our donate page for more information.

Tags: #WeWillReadAgain, gaza, gaza children, gaza great minds, ggm, tent school, twitter space