Tonight I am going to turn in a more serious direction by starting with a question. What the hell is going on in the world? I recommend we take a moment to gather our thoughts and feelings in order to move away from the chaos that is erupting everywhere. I mean, what is wrong with people.
It seems as though all the craziness is bursting through the seams of their very being. People are being influenced by the hatred and bigotry of a group of mad humans who are looking to harm anyone who gets in their way or disagrees with them. It seems as though the world is infused with madness. Really!
I went several days without watching any television or news programs. I felt great. I had forgotten how toxic television can really be, and how it influences our mood and well being.
Everywhere on the TV the news creators are keeping the public mad with fear, hatred, and bigotry. I think to myself this can’t be real, but it is. At least that is what they are trying to make us believe with the stories they are sharing.
Even when I watch my favorite news station ” One America News Network” I am left with a bad taste in my mouth. All the revelations about corruption, greed, racism, and sex has worn me out. I do not believe that there are that many horrible, detestable people in the world. Are there really?
I am going to play devil’s advocate and say that no one can ” make ” us be a bad person. It is our choice. That’s right! It is our choice to turn away from those in need. It is our choice to spit in the face of someone we have been programmed to hate, and it is our choice to be the kind of person who is no longer human.
I think we need to take a moment, take a breath, and look at the world around us. We need to step away from our fears and hatred. Who are we really? What do we have to be thankful for in this world. What are some of the GOOD things going on right now! And, how can WE change the programming of our mind to forgive and move onward?
It is possible to change what direction our lives are going. It is possible to become a better person. All it takes is the desire to change, and the responsibility to make it happen.
I was watching a video on Yahoo one day, it has been awhile, but it made me smile. It showed that there are indeed good people in the world. This video showed some men saving a mother dog and her pup. I could not find the video, but I want to tell you the story.
A mother dog and one pup was stuck along the rim of a drainage pool down this deep embankment, and they could not traverse back up the very steep side to safety. Each time they tried they slid back toward the water.
In the distance were several guards who heard the frantic whimpers of the animals and came to look. The men were speaking Russian or Ukrainian, some language that I could not understand although the message was clear.
I will say that there were two scenarios that could have occurred. One, they could have laughed at the peril of these animals and walked away, leaving them to finally fall into the water and drown. Or two, they could have been good humans and helped.
These big hulking men gathered a rope from their truck, and while two of them were holding the line, the other slid down this steep embankment to the mother dog and pup. Both of the animals were jumping on this fellow with their tails wagging. It was a sight that brought tears to my eyes. The man grabbed the pup first, and the two men at the top pulled him back up to safety.
In the video we could see the mother dog scrambling around close to the waters edge, tail wagging, watching the rescue of her baby.
Once safely at the top the second men took the puppy while the first skidded his way back down to the mother dog who leaped into his arms the moment he was close enough to reach and up they went to join the trio at the top.
At the end of the video the little group crossed along the top of the embankment to safety. I could not understand one word that was being said while the men organized this rescue, but the message was very clear. They were good Samaritans who could not leave a helpless creature in need.
This video reminded me that while there is so much hatred and anger being projected across our television screen, there are still wonderful people who take time out of their day to helps others in need, or do a good deed for some lowly creature.
I worked newborn nursery many years ago. It was a beautiful place to work. A place where life often begins. Babies come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. No one ever hesitated to soothe a child in need. No one could resist the opportunity to snuggle a baby close who was having a hard time settling into this great big new world. No baby shied away from a set of hands reaching to care for it because the hands were black or white.
What I ask of you, and myself, is to take a moment to look at the good things that are going on in the world. Look at all the wonderful videos on YOUTUBE of great things occurring around you. Look at all the marvelous people reaching out to others across this great world wide web who want to help and educate. It is a revelation to see. It is heart warming. It will change your mood entirely.
If I know one truth it is that we are influenced by the people who surround us. If we surround ourselves with war mongrels we will be one as well. If we surround ourselves with self loathing and hateful people, we come to loath ourselves, and others too. And if we surround ourselves with those who want to harm others, then we will reach out to do harm as well. It is a truth. It is a reality right now.
All I ask is that you test this truth by changing the people who influence you if your life is in chaos and you want it to change. We are what we bring into our lives. We are the people who surround us. No one can make us be who we do not want to be. It is our choice.
You can also test this truth by watching videos of people saving animals, helping children, working to save the environment, giving to the elderly, or helping their neighbors. After such exposure we often come away feeling a whole lot better. It influences us to want to help as well, just like the hatred influences us to hate.
I am saddened by the things I see going on in the world. So much pain, and while I can’t change anyone else, I can change myself. I can pick and choose what I will watch, who I will associate with, and whether I will give of myself or not. Those are the only things I can control. Those are the only things you can control.
We do have a great country. It has so much potential. It is the people of this country who can make it great or destroy it. What kind of person do you want to be? We can not change the past. I am not responsible for what my ancestors did or did not do. I can feel sad that they may have made bad choices or done bad things, but I can say that I have not been one to do bad things as well. Can you?
I have been to other countries where the people were not as fortunate as we. Where their governments did not look after their citizens as well as ours. It helped me appreciate all that I have in this world. When I am being greedy wanting ” more stuff” I am often brought back to the reality that I have all that I need. Many do not.
Take a moment. Take two. Look at your world and make it a better place. Each of us contributes to the chaos around us. Are we helping or hindering? Turn off the television set. Go out and help someone. Share an adventure with a family member or two. Give of yourself. Do a good deed without being asked or expecting a reward. Forgive a wrong that has been done to you, ask for forgiveness of some harm you may have caused. And, love yourself. You have the potential to be a great person. You and I have a choice. Let’s make today a better day. We can do this together. We have the power to do great things. And as I always say, have a great day today. You and I deserve it.
