Tag Archives: humanity

Where’s the Caring?

This time of COVID may go down in history as the “The Great Reveal”. The pressure cooker of 8 billion people focusing on their mortality has caused many of our life values to bubble to the surface for examination.

One of those is “caring”. My observation is that humans in survival mode often tend towards an “every man for himself” way of looking at things. I’ve felt appalled to hear some people state that it was okay with them that people were losing their businesses, as long as they themselves were safe.

This is not meant as a commentary about whether certain restrictions were right or wrong. Rather, I found the callousness with which it was stated disturbing.

Where is the caring? The success of the human race will (I believe) depend upon the degree we can feel compassion for and help our fellow human beings.

Maybe we need to organize a worldwide reading day, all of it comprised of some good children’s books, so we can review some core life values. Note that the first three “caring” quotes below are from two famous children’s authors:

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
~ Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

“Some people care too much. I think it’s called love.”
~ A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

“So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact. And remember that life’s A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed) Kid, you’ll move mountains.”
~ Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

“We are afraid to care too much, for fear that the other person does not care at all.”
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

“If you care about something you have to protect it – If you’re lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it.”
~ John Irving

“Many people need desperately to receive this message: ‘I feel and think much as you do, care about many of the things you care about, although most people do not care about them. You are not alone.”
~ Kurt Vonnegut

Where’s the Caring? © Susan L Hart 2021 | Friendly comments welcome | Photos courtesy nohaggerty and StockSnap

Rose-colored Glasses

Leave a reply

This is a wake up call to take a realistic and pragmatic view of the shifts you are seeing in the world around you right now. Start calmly evaluating how you can take charge of your life to be prepared for whatever comes at you. You are much stronger, resilient, and resourceful than you might imagine.

Time to start really paying attention to events, the unfolding, and not only to what you see, but also what you don’t see. What’s missing?

Time to watch for the incongruities, the inconsistencies, and what is between the lines. The signs for what may come in the future are always there, when we pay proper attention and have discernment.

Time to question, question, question.

Time to use not only your logic as you process the world around you, but also to listen to your heart and your gut.

Time to take personal responsibility for your life, rather than waiting for someone else to solve the problems.

Do not be dismayed, but rather be heartened by the resiliency of the human spirit. When we pull together, great things can be accomplished. This has been demonstrated again and again throughout history. This is the big opportunity of humanity to step up to the plate, raise our consciousness, and create a better world and society for ourselves.

Inspirational Quotes:

“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery each day.” ~ Albert Einstein

“Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.” ~ Voltaire

“It is not that I’m so smart. But I stay with the questions much longer.” ~ Albert Einstein

“There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” ~ Zora Neale Hurston

“Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.” ~ Voltaire

Rose-colored Glasses © Susan L Hart 2020 | Friendly comments welcome | Photos courtesy Nate Cohen, Pexels and MabelAmber, Pixabay

Stereotypical Walls

5 Replies

Stereotypes propagate a full spectrum of negative, divisive, and destructive effects. We know the usual ones, based on race, color, gender, economics, political affiliation, etc. The list is long and goes on.

It feels like society is intent on building more walls lately, not tearing them down. As much as there is a narrative about overcoming them, some of the tactics being used are actually reinforcing them.

It is a challenge for each of us, every day, to acknowledge and see past the stereotypes we carry within us. When we subscribe to stereotypes and labeling, we are not only doing an injustice to others, we also are to ourselves.

When we can personally overcome this sort of thinking and behavior, we become expansive and growing, big rather than small.

Let’s commit to adopting bigger thinking, wider perspectives, and to building bridges rather than walls.

Inspirational Quotes:

“….. it would be interesting to find out what goes on in that moment when someone looks at you and draws all sorts of conclusions.” ~ Malcolm Gladwell

“The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story.” ~ Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

“Once you label me you negate me.” ~ Søren Kierkegaard

“A stereotype becomes a stereotype when a significant percentage of the population appears to conform to it.” ~ Kelley Armstrong

Stereotypical Walls © Susan L Hart 2021 | Friendly comments welcome | Photo courtesy u_m5d2lywo, PIxabay

Polishing Your Mirror

2 Replies

Have you noticed the way that some experiences seem to repeat themselves in your life? You become irritated and perhaps even angry, wishing they would just “go away”. But here’s the rub…

When we resist our lessons, they simply come around again in another form. Learn it now or learn it later, it’s your choice. If you choose later, the lesson will likely be more extreme, until you just cannot ignore any more that it is something you are trying to learn.

When we become wise enough to see that life is not just “happening to us”, but that we attract the experiences and lessons we need to grow our souls, then it becomes somewhat smoother. The head bashing stops.

Observation and reflection are key to beginning to unlock and solve your life lessons.

Polishing Your Mirror © Susan L Hart 2021 | Friendly comments welcome | Photos courtesy Lisa, Pexels and Bessi, Pixabay

Sweetness of Life

2 Replies

Lately have you been tasting the sweetness of life upon your tongue? Or have the events and challenges of the past year(+) left you consuming too much bitter?

Even in the “most normal” of times (what does that even mean anymore?), we all can do better at seeing, appreciating, and tasting the sweetness of life. It’s all around us, all the time. But when we become mesmerized and overwhelmed by the bitter, it can become almost impossible to taste the sweet. This requires requires intention and focus.

Today take the time to taste and savor the sweet aspects of your life. (Children are very good at this. Observe and remember.)

Even if you can only find one small thing to do so, it’s a start. Focus on it and let it expand in your heart and mind. This is one of the important tools for living life consciously and deeply.

Let yourself fall in love with life, all over again.

Inspirational Quotes:

“I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.” ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder

“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.” ~ John Steinbeck

“When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow.” ~ Shauna Niequist

“Experience life in all possible ways – good-bad, bitter-sweet, dark-light, summer-winter. Experience all the dualities. Don’t be afraid of experience, because the more experience you have, the more mature you become.” ~ Osho