Why it is time to step it up
The recent news has been filled with terrorist attacks in multiple places throughout the world. Though we try hard to hold on to the thought that things are getting better, that we are evolving and that the human race is intrinsically good, it is in moments like these that we find these uplifting thoughts a bit hard to hold on to. How do we continue to be beacons of light and positive change when there seems to be darkness at every turn?
In speaking with many people over these last few days, I am convinced the answer is to lovingly shine our light even brighter. People are desperately searching for a glimmer of hope. With 24 hour news channels, relentless updates on our mobile devices and conversation all around us focusing on all that is wrong in the world, there is a great need for people to step up and show that this is not the only way.
Bad news sells. Tragedy, drama, crime, violence, unfortunately those are the headlines that capture the average person’s attention. And so we begin to believe that this is what life is really like. We talk more about the terrorists than the cabbies who were giving free rides home into the wee hours of the morning to people stuck in danger zones or the restaurant owners who hid scared clients in the kitchen as guns fired all around. We focus in on the violence and not on the thousand gestures of love and support that touched many, many lives during each of the recent tragedies. What would happen if we began to shift our thoughts from what happened to why it happened and how we can try to begin to heal the root of the problem?
I believe each of us has the opportunity to step up and show that human beings are at their core, good, kind and caring. To heck with my university literature teacher who believed whole heartedly in Jospeh Conrad’s Heart of Darkness theory that man is evil at heart. I don’t believe that and I have a feeling if you are still reading this, you do not either. So what to do?
How about looking for ways to up your implication, to augment your positive beliefs and to spread your message farther and wider? If you are sitting at home lamenting the state of the world but are doing nothing towards making the change you want to see, then you are in fact a part of the problem. Staying silent helps no one and that includes yourself.
Decide today that you are going to make the world a bit better just by being here. No matter what it is you do in life you have a chance to touch people in a positive way. Just like the security guard who scaned your bags while cracking hilarious jokes, or the high school teacher who inspired you to explore new career possibilities or the woman on the street who smiled at you as she guided her grandmother on one arm and pushed her new baby’s stroller with the other. You can inspire others simply by being the very best you, you can be. Shine your light brightly, and brighter now more than ever. The world needs you.