Keep Trying

There is a tendency in our society to assess blame. Blame the government, blame the schools, blame law enforcement, blame the legal system. While there is likely plenty of blame to go around, it doesn’t seem to be creating much positive change. If we look at how problems were handled in a historical context, it often came with a certain amount of personal sacrifice. People were tough and determined. They did what needed to be done—even at the risk of personal discomfort.

Today, I notice the tone is different. Everything is about “my rights, my choice… me, I, myself.” People aren’t concerned if anything is left for their neighbor. They don’t want to make changes in themselves. They want to change others instead. Most people don’t want to take responsibility for themselves or their own actions.

We can’t just give-up, because there are adverse conditions. We can’t stop trying, because someone told us that life isn’t fair. We can’t avoid responsibility by demanding others make all the changes—because in the end, we can only change ourselves. One by one, we can make the choices necessary to save the planet, make things equitable for everyone, and lookout for our neighbors as well as our families.