(This was hard to write:)

Weeks ago, my family was at the table, eating, talking. 

My mom was fine until she spoke:

“I just want it to end,” she said. She began to cry. “It’s wrong,” she said. Her cheeks were wet. 

Since the war began, more than 13000 Ukrainian troops have been killed and at least 7199 civilians have lost their lives. Russia’s casualties are in the hundreds of thousands. 

“It’s so, so wrong,” she said.

Our family still has people in Kiev. Many people. 

Last week, I was moved by a note I received from Andriy, a marketer living in Lviv. He reached out to thank me for waving the Ukrainian flag next to my name here on LinkedIn. 

“When a new post is released, they all see 🇺🇦,” he wrote. “Tons of appreciation for reminding people about the brutal war in Ukraine… The situation in Ukraine needs ongoing attention and support—”

I was moved because adding the Ukrainian flag emoji to my name was such a small thing, seemingly, such a small gesture. It cost me nothing. And it took me only a moment. And yet it means so much to those actually living through the grimness, the savagery of war, the viciousness of this colossal tragedy, this complete and utter waste of life. 

“It’s so, so wrong.”

Please, consider adding the 🇺🇦 emoji to your name today. Or, if it’s not right for you, please support folks who do. 

People will notice, and remember. 🇺🇦💔