Do Good Anyway

 I don't have to tell you that we live in a world where people can flip out at the drop of a hat.  Where road rage is common, public shootings have become routine and tolerance for one another is at an all-time low.  It is easy to get sucked into that mindset, the mindset where I will look out for myself and my family and that is it.  Some don't care what other people are going through; when we do we often blame them and look the other way.

Many years ago I was in a training in Millington Tennessee. We were learning about how a lot of the children in our country move through their day.  The facilitator held a piece of paper in her hand and then said this is Jimmy, he is in second grade. Jimmy wakes up late for school and she rips a piece of the paper, Jimmy goes to get breakfast and there is no cereal left, she rips another piece of the paper, Jimmy quickly grabs his bookbag as he hears the bus approaching his house, he misses the bus and the children laugh at Jimmy while he runs after the bus, she rips another piece of the paper. Jimmy tries to wake his mom up to take him to school and she screams at him for missing the bus, another piece gone.  He gets to school an hour late and is warned about his attendance, and another piece is ripped.  This illustration goes on until there is hardly anything left of Jimmy and it is only 10 am. Working for a school district I can tell you that a lot of our youth have it a lot harder than Jimmy and they are expected to move through this world in a manner they have never been taught.  I see the saying a lot on Facebook, be kind as you never know what people are going through.  It is so very true.  Hard times do not give a person the right to take it out on us but it can provide some insight as to why you are seeing that behavior and that can change the way you would react to that person. A little kindness and understanding go a long way.                          

Humanity needs a comeback! I think if we paused and considered what we all have been through, especially these past couple of years, maybe we would think a bit more before we spoke, and be less likely to judge folks who make decisions or have beliefs different from our own.  We are all after the same things. Happiness, purpose, love, understanding, validation, families who are thriving, and personal success, all of the things that make us get out of bed every morning. I wake up with a heart of gratitude as I know just waking up is a gift.  I do not take that for granted.  Being positive in a world that pushes negativity is not always easy and it takes a conscious effort every single day. It is our choice of how we wake up, and how we interact with co-workers, family members, and the community.  The choice is yours!  This blog post was inspired by a memory that popped up of something I shared 6 or 7 years ago on Facebook. Do good anyway!! Mother Teresa was a wise woman. Be BOLD!!