Category: Sharing

Leaders

Leaders

This is the week we celebrate a country that was founded on including everyone.  From the time of the Mayflower, the first ship from England reached our shores, the overall idea was to work together and share in the rewards together.  This was part of the Mayflower compact.

Over time the greed of men takes over.  We forget that we had altruistic beliefs that would allow everyone to work and share in the rewards.  Although some looked to raise the common good and help all to be better, others lost their way in using other people and our vast resources to make a fortune that would not be equally shared amongst all who toiled. 

At this point, seeking revenge for sins of the misguided and ruthless individuals who have gone before does little more than fan the flames of hate.  We must step forward, hand-in-hand, and multiply our talents working together, for the good of and reward to all. For we who live now hold it within our hands and our minds to do the right things.

Easy? No. Attainable? Only if we work at it together. A top-down directive? I don’t see that working. A grassroots initiative for peace and prosperity? I think it’s the only chance we have. Am I talking about over-throwing the current system? Absolutely not. What we need to do is work within the system to make it better. At the same time, we work with those on our blocks, our neighborhood, and in our city, to curb violence and find ways to work together towards the common good.

Instead of looking to the past, we need to look to the youth of today. The young people we teach and groom today are our leaders of tomorrow.

Thank you for being with me today. I hope to be with you again tomorrow.

Tell Me About It

It seems that we are more and more communicating with things and not with people. Phones have menus whose aim is to remove people and get you to the computer, or maybe a person, you need to work with faster. Our uninvited advertising calls are run by computers and computerized bots for the most part. And they are so good, that you can miss the fact you’re talking to a computer. With Cortona, Seri, Alexa, and all the other virtual assistants in our computers these days, we find ourselves talking even more to our computer, laptop, tablet, or phone. Speaking with another human is becoming more of a rare indulgence.

I find our new communication with computers interesting. The lack of human interaction has grown to the point some organizations are now offering a listener. The listener interacts with clients by listening to whatever the client wishes to talk to him about. He does not initiate conversation or dominate the conversation. The listener does empathize with the client, asks questions, and can offer an idea. I believe the best thing that a listener can do is either ask a question which helps the person to find clarity in the situation or questions which help the client consider alternatives.

Many people when offered a listener to talk to, shy away. I think this is because they are afraid they’re going to be judged in some way. As we begin to lose human interaction with those around us, our imaginations sometimes take over, and we can find ourselves paranoid, worrying about who will judge us who will try to take advantage of us, and who will mock us. I believe these fears are evidence of the pain suffered when social beings are isolated. We see this in the incarcerated, the elderly, and the ostracized.

I can also tell you many aggressive, angry and antisocial people feel so much better and content after talking to some who have taken the time to listen. They see that they have been able to exchange ideas with another human being and honestly be heard. They often would like to know when they can come back and talk again.

If I may suggest, talk to each other from time to time.  You may find empathy with others, you may keep fears at bay, and you may see that you feel better and are a little more outgoing,

Thanks for being with me today.  I hope to be with you again tomorrow.

The Holiday Spirit

This time of year, many major religions celebrate the feasts of giving. It is in our nature to share what we have with others. It helps us to share our joy with others and allows them to take part in our bounty.

When we share what we have, we do honor to them, and we honor ourselves. We can always give a present, exchange a couple of kind words, and be on our way. Yet there is actually much more we can do.

We can share the gift of time and understanding with others we know. We can take time to this it with them, talk with them, and learn new things about them. In exchange, they get to do the same with us. In this type of holiday gift, everyone involved finds positive energy and uplifting joy.

Sharing this gift with those in your circle, the people you know and care for, is a great gift. And yet there is an even greater side to this. When you step out and share this with others whom you don’t know, maybe some who were a little less fortunate than yourself, then, everything you offer seems to come back to you. And, you will find it shaken down and flowing over.

I know that sharing with others you are not acquainted with is something that sounds hard, and yet these actions can be some of the most rewarding to both yourself and the others involved. One thing I would recommend is the fact that we do not have to do this only during certain times of the year. We can take any time to reach out and share with another. True, it is more expected during the holidays, yet it is something that is appreciated and cherished any time.

Like everything else I suggest start off with small doses and test it out. This is something you have to try for yourself, not just take my word on. If you do so, please let me know how it went.

Thanks for being with me today. I hope to be with you again tomorrow.

Sharing Time

Thirteen young people are alive today because of the ability of others from around the world to put aside differences and come to the aid of those in trouble when needed. This helps us to understand that when push comes to shove we are all one people bound by mutual respect for human life.

No one asked about religious affiliations, party affiliations, leadership beliefs, or anything else. When the need was there, people from around the globe came to assist. We see this a lot in malnourished and underdeveloped countries. Places where clean water is needed, famines fought, and illness or disease is prevalent.

Much of this takes money. In donating money, even a little is a beautiful thing. It shows caring and a wish for a good outcome to a worthy cause. Many small donations collected and used wisely can become a sizeable monetary catalyst towards change for the better. Although this is a useful endeavor, there is one even better.

The even better endeavor might be to spend a little time doing something good for someone. We cannot all afford to fly to a foreign country to help. We may not have the skills required for rescues or providing medical assistance. Some of us even have phobias of heights. Yet, we can definitely do good towards our fellow humans.

How much do they charge you to say hello? What type of investment does a smile take?  If there is something you can do for an hour or two somewhere that helps others, what would you have done with those couple of hours anyway?

You have often heard me say that the most significant and most costly expenditure is time. I must also tell you that a donation of time is often an incredible investment. A smile on the street will usually elicit a smile in return. The look of a good feeling in someone’s eyes. Or, an understanding that no matter where we are in life, we are all connected.

Finding understanding and empathy, and sharing it is what makes us who we are. And, the ripples caused by our interactions, on a human to human basis, spread further than we could possibly have imagined.

Sometimes the smallest of kindnesses reap the most significant rewards. Not in gold or silver; instead, it is given in empathy and understanding.

Hope to be with you again tomorrow.

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