Where to even start?
In our world of 24-hour news, multiple platforms and social media that stream the tragedies and traumas from around the world into our faces via smart-TVs, all our screens and our phones, how are we to cope? How do we begin to deal with it? The hundreds of commercials fed to us every day…most always predicated on feeding my fears of 1000 different things…dying for one because I didn’t take their pill. Or fearing the safety of my castle will be breached without hiring their security company. Or that I’m missing out because everyone else out there is driving a fancier, more expensive, newer car, lives in a better zip-code or is traveling to all sorts of exotic places…and I am stuck at home.
The truth: our human emotional makeups have limits to what we can handle and when those are reached different things happen. We grow numb, less empathic to the sad stories we see. We can medicate with one of several of those sales pitches thrown in our face…alcohol, food, money, sex or depending on what you watch…a sic version of even god (small ‘g’)…although all those other medicators just mentioned are in fact small gods. Or, you could use one of the last bastions of your control (which we have very little), by using your remote to mute, or turn ‘it' off. THEN, you get the chance to deal with the silence and how you sort all this out.
Not long after I moved to Nashville as a budding, green social worker from academia, I met a staff member at The Belmont church, Charlie Newman, also a social worker. He gave me a formula that I’ve never forgotten and has proven true throughout my life.
OPPORTUNITY + RESOURCES = RESPONSIBILITY
When many of us see a disaster we struggle with wanting to do something…anything to help. Those of us in Nashville have felt it multiple times—the 2010 massive flood, the tornados just before COVID last year, or the Christmas Day bombing downtown last year…to name only a few. (As I write the city is seeking volunteers yet again for the floods middle TN had last weekend). Tennessee has been known as the volunteer state as a result of our predecessors heading to Texas to help defend the Alamo…didn’t turn out so well.
Yet the formula works. There are times I want to help but the opportunity doesn’t present itself. Even then when persistent and keeping my eyes open ultimately I might find an open door. In Nashville we have an organization called Hands On Nashville that coordinates volunteers for all sorts of opportunities. After being in lock down for a year and finally being fully shot up, I did the orientation and have been delivering food just to being doing something for so many in need.
In other cases I might get the opportunity, but I don’t have the resources. That might be money, tools, the education, skills or certification that is needed. Yep, that’s frustrating.
But, when the door of opportunity opens and I’m sitting here with the resources, BINGO, there-in is responsibility. I’m a winner…or just maybe I can help someone else to be one for a moment.
The need is overwhelming in the world we live in…if you don’t see that, then you are already numb. If you’ve not viewed The Social Dilemma on Netflix, go to it. We can’t live without the internet any more but we are being groomed and often are pawns, we are seen simply as consumers. That is the game, to get into your head, your heart, your back pocket/purse…or your pants. The system really does not want informed consumers…they don’t respond well to manipulation. Even when you are ‘awake’ it’s not easy to stay there 24/7.
Keep the formula handy. Use your remote button well and when opportunity and resources come together, get off your butt.
Here are a few ways we can all do something for the whole:
Volunteer where you quality with Hands On Nashville
Stop buying water in plastic bottles (but when you do ;-), recycle the bottle).
Walk or bike to nearby destinations.
Turn off lights and unplug devices when not in use (I know, you’ve heard that from someone all your life).
Keep your car tires inflated properly.
Eat food locally grown…and less red meat.
Use cold water cycles for clothes washing.
Set your thermostat to 78 in the summer and 67 in the winter. Use fans in the summer.
Drive efficiently. No jack rabbit starts. Accelerate lightly. Coast to a red light. Obey speed limits (more closely). Don’t idle, go inside. Skip the drive-thru. Get a few extra steps in.
Keep stuff out of the landfill. Recycle or repurpose everything you can. Sell items via a yard sale, thrift shop or neighborhood website…or take them to Goodwill or similar.
Use alternative transportation in getting to work once per week…or car pool.
Spoken as your friend…with a thumb in your back but with an honest concern for your sanity and the benefit of the whole.
3/2021