We live in an ”i” world. Our priorities are often materialistic and self-centred. We desire the ipod, the ipad, the iphone, the iapp the I,I,I,I,I, and what the “I” wants the “I” should have. What about the “we?” What about the “us?” The only “we” that seems important today is the Wii and even that has two I’s. What about community spirit and caring about the wellbeing of our local and international community? We live in boxes with little contact with our neighbours and community and many of us like it that way. We don’t want to get involved. We don’t want to have too much contact. We prefer to sit on our computers or phones and make comments on facebook at a comfortable cyber space distance. What are we afraid of? We are becoming more dissociated from our fellow citizens. It is time to reverse this trend and reassociate ourselves with our community.
My friends often say to me why do I want to get involved in things that “aren’t my business?” Firstly, who defines what is “my business?” Why isn’t the wellbeing of others in my community and the world at large considered “my business?” Secondly, the benefits of charity work are a two way street. Allan Luks has coined the phrase “helper’s high,” referring to the physical and emotional benefits volunteers get from charity work as it nourishes the soul. I think everyone should be able to find a couple of hours a week to do community work. It’s all about prioritizing.
Personally, I have no desire to live in a little box and watch the world around me crumble through selfishness and immorality. My family is my priority, but I think it is it important for me to be a positive role model to my family. It’s also important to me that I can stand tall in my shoes and have few regrets. I was brought up to always try to “do a good deed every day and to help other people.” I still live by that motto, something instilled in me from my Brownie Guide days. Sometimes those deeds are small like helping someone lost with directions. Other times they require putting my neck on the line or just greater commitment.
If I see a “wrong” in the world I don’t want to just make a passing criticism, I want to take action to improve the situation. Yes my definition of “wrong” is based on the moral code I have learned, but I think many of my beliefs are shared. For instance, we all know that what’s happening in Syria at the moment is “wrong,” innocent people are being tortured and killed. Unfortunately, the world has been slow to act. Is that because the international community sees little benefit from intervening and more was at stake in Libya for instance? Do we only take action on a personal micro level and an international macro level if there is an obvious perceived benefit to ourselves from intervention?
Many people may also say that certain issues are “not their problem.” I think we should learn from history. Reverend Martin Niemoller said “In Germany they first came for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for me, and by that time there was nobody left to speak up.” We all need to evaluate the consequences of what happening around us, the consequences of action and the consequences of inaction. As a guide, I always ask myself if I was that person in that situation would I want someone to help me. My decision then becomes simple.
Our community, local and international, needs nurturing. We all need a sense of belonging. We all need to know that if we find ourselves in trouble that someone will come to our aid. A friend recently said to me “Stop and smell the rose.” Well sometimes the garden need some tend loving care and some weeding so the roses can grow more prolific and strong. So I encourage all citizens of this earth to get involved instead of sitting on the fence and lets create a better world full of roses.
Photo Credit
Thumbnail Image From socialmediarise
I am wondering about your thoughts now that Obama seems Hell bent to bomb Syria?
I agree. If we all just took on one small project or even chose one charity to support if we are time poor “our” world would defintiely be a better place. Many ppl in our communities just need to feel like someone cares about them and they’re not alone.
Hi Amanda,
Well said. Technology has been allowing us to cocoon ourselves more and more, to block out anything we don’t like or don’t agree with. It takes effort along with courage to step out of that cocoon, and even more so to actively try and improve on problems we find. Some problems, like child poverty or global warming, might seem so big that one can succumb to despair. My philosophy is this: “Maybe I can’t change the world, but I can change the world around me.” If each of us as individuals focused just on making improvements to the things close to us, we’d all be better off.