I am so torn!! I have
such hope and such despair at the exact same time. Is it any wonder stress related illnesses are
up, suicide is at epidemic proportions with our military personnel, divorce
rates, child abuse, and tragedies fill our airways and permeate our lives? As a society, we glorify that which we used
to call dysfunction (MTV's teenage mothers and Jersey Shore)! We are enamored by the mental health issues
of others (Intervention and Hoarders)!
We put into cartoon form cruelties and hatred and the things we at one
point wanted to hide our children from (South Park and Family Guy)? News is driving politics from the extremes
(Fox News and MSNBC). I watched the Vice
Presidential debates...there was no winner...but both sides are calling it
their victory. We are so divided as a
nation. Society spends most of its time
pointing out how different we
are...not how much alike we are. I am exhausted!!! Yet...I have hope.
I just spent six weeks on the road. I have spent significant time over those
weeks in Winnipeg MB, Charlottesville VA, Omaha NE, Anchorage AK, and Dowagiac
MI. I have interacted with people in airports,
hotels, restaurants, in these cities as well as Minneapolis MN, Richmond VA, Detroit
MI, Seattle WA, Salt Lake City UT, and South Bend IN. There are so many good people out
there!! People who are just as tired as
I of the ugly politics. These people give a needed smile, head nod,
and helping hand. People who want to make
a difference in others lives. Some of
these people give of their time, some of them give of their money, some of them
have made it their careers whilst others choose a career that allows them the
resources to give and make a difference.
They love through their actions and their kind words. These people are not forced but give freely. They
do not demand that the government make everyone
do their share...THEY do THEIR share.
The vast majority of my last six weeks has been with amazing
people who care so much. They are
teachers, social workers, mental health workers, nurses, therapists,
behaviorists, direct care workers, supervisors, and administrators. They work long hours, have low wages, deal
with challenging behaviors, are buried in red-tape, yet care deeply about the people they support and
the people around them. I am not blind
to ugliness folks...I do know that it is not all wonderful and that there are
those who do the minimums....those who are not so great...those who take
advantage of others under a position of responsibility.
However, as long as the people I have spent my last six weeks
with are around I have HOPE. Not hope in
an individual who uses the word as a tag line to be elected but in everyday
ordinary people. Not in individuals who
spend BILLIONS of dollars on campaign adds but in the people who spend $25 for
a walk to raise awareness of how awesome a child with special needs really
is. Not in the people who are out in
front of cameras getting sound bites but in those who are taking someone less
fortunate on an appointment with no recognition or "photo op". As long as people care for the comfort of strangers,
I will not give up. I am sad at all the
negativity from both sides of the political isle. I hope after all the politics ends that
people will turn off their hate and turn toward someone in need...they could
use your help...not your opinions.
Thanks to all those regular people who inspire me!!
