It's Now or Never: Will You Answer When the Caller Is Change?

The world is a big, crazy, scary, and emotionally draining place. The ups, the downs, and the in-betweens keeps us emotionally unstable despite our best efforts to keep it together. These days, confusion is running rampant, everyone is emotionally distraught, and help is nonexistent. We've gone from it takes a village to calling the police on kids selling lemonade. Kids don't know what it is to play outside, police violence has replaced gang violence in the news, riots are everywhere, and the face of our nation promotes racists rhetoric. We can spend all day talking about what's wrong or even where things began to go wrong, but the bigger question is how do we fix the problem? Who's going to fix the problem? Better yet, who's going to admit there even is a problem?

Living in today's world is like going to an AA meeting everyday, speaking at the meetings, and never addressing the reason you're in AA in the first place. The denial and the ability to look away is astounding. I know people care. I care. So why is taking that first step so hard? We have no problem telling the dumb chick in the movies not to walk towards danger, yet we continue to walk in it every day. Every moment we spend shaking our heads in disbelief, every time we say that's so sad and carry on like it never happened, every moment we spend not caring because in our minds it's not happening to us or our family, is a moment of failure. We see what's happening yet we do nothing. We say nothing. Why? Why is it so hard to find leaders?

Among other reasons, fear and complacency have taken over our lives. No one likes to step outside their comfort zone. I get it and I'm the same way too. Comfortable is pleasing and pleasant. It feels good. While we comfortably sit back and read or watch the terrible things that are occurring around us, we fail to notice how quickly those storm clouds are closing in on our front door. Every problem facing society is everyone's problem. It doesn't matter that the problem is in Africa, Afghanistan, or the US. Every problem is every person's responsibility. Just because we forgot what it takes a village means doesn't mean the concept no longer exists. If we don't figure out how to collectively come together for the betterment of all, the destruction of all will consume us.

So what do we do? How do we help? Unfortunately I don't have all the answers, but I do know that every effort no matter how large or small helps. I'm not suggesting anyone put themselves in harm's way or do more than you're capable of, but to simply do what you can to help. Stop saying you’re going to pray and actually start praying. Stop saying you're going volunteer and actually volunteer. Take action and put your thoughts and well wishes to work. That's where we begin and that's how we change not only our mindset but the mindset of others. Getting involved could be as simple as taking the struggling family next door under your wing and making sure they eat today. That's it. It's that simple. That one kind and compassionate gesture can cause a domino effect and change the entire outcome of the world first the better.

Sounds crazy right? Well, let's break it down. Let's say tomorrow you decide to feed the struggling family next door. You could very well have stopped the father at his wits and from robbing the convent store, killing the clerk, landing the father in jail and sending his teenage son to the streets looking for a come up so he can help feed his mom and siblings. Look at all the good that came from one meal. This is how change happens. This is how we get involved and not only change our communities; we change our lives and the lives of all around us. I know everyone has seen at least one video or heard a story similar to what I described where the helper later received help from those they helped.

It's time to set ourselves up for success. We cannot continue to live in failure. We have to help one another. We have to educate ourselves so that we can pass that knowledge and experience on to those that look to us for help and advice. Pay it forward, each one teach one, and it takes a village cannot become dead concepts. They are as valid today as they were at the time of their creation. Put the tools you've been blessed with and out them to good use. I know everyone has their own thoughts on religion, but no matter what you believe, we all have special gifts and talents that were meant to be shared with the world. Let's share and save ourselves before we lose ourselves. It's never too late to make a change or take a stand. No more excuses or complaints, just action that brings about positive change.

Good luck all those choosing to make a change and set that domino effect in motion. I hope our paths cross one day and we can put our talents to good use for the betterment of all.