What Am I Supposed To Do Now? What Am I Going To Do?
Racism existed in our country before it was a country. Discrimination, persecution and unjust treatment of others has been around since the beginning of time. We can do better. All of us can do better. Likewise, the other problems that exist in our world have been here for a long time. While we can all do better helping the plight of those who are discriminated against, persecuted or treated unjustly, we also have to continue helping with improved care for mental health, loneliness and addiction just to name a few. While I agree that we can all do more to address racism, we also need to acknowledge that some people are better suited to make positive changes in this area and some people are better suited to continue focusing on the things they do that are also making positive changes in the world. I do not think it is helpful to devalue the good things people do in their “own little world”. Yes, we can all do better. Sometimes that means doing little things in your little world that make that place/community better. That still counts. That is still important and we can all do that.
As a fifty-two year old white female, I know there is always more I can do to be a “better person” and yet there is also I lot I can continue doing because at this point I have figured out a few things I do that make a positive impact in my community. I’ve also figured out things that aren’t in my wheelhouse and I realize there are others who are far better suited to do them. In light of recent events I have had more conversations about racism with my adult and teenage children. We have discussed topics I never even thought of discussing with my parents. We will do more of this. After reflection on what else I can/should do differently, I’ve settled on researching term limits for congress in the US. This is something tangible that I can do that I have been thinking about but never acted upon. I THINK it will make a positive impact on our legislative and justice system, but I have a lot to learn before I’m ready to jump on social media with a formal viewpoint. I could be wrong. I honestly don’t know but it’s something I’ve been thinking about for awhile. Now I’m actively researching it rather than just thinking about it. I will also keep my eyes, ears and heart open to other things that I can do differently or participate in that will help move this forward.
That is what I will do differently. What I will continue to do is to advocate for better mental health care and closer to home I will continue to reach out to people who are lonely. A friend told me my super power was connecting people. Loneliness is terrible and unnecessary. There are people all around you who are lonely. I’m comfortable reaching out to those who are lonely, but not everyone is, so I’m going to continue to do it because I know it makes a difference. I don’t expect everyone to be comfortable with it or good at it, but you can give it a try if you’d like.
I went to an actual (outdoor) church service last week for the first time in three months. The message was simple. Love God. Love your neighbor. It really is so simple and yet so hard. We can all do better. We have all dropped the ball. For me, I’m going to do a few things differently and keep trying to do little things in my little world. I think all the things we do — big and little — matter. Keep going. What you do matters, even if it’s little.
