We are living in the times of ME! What makes ME happy, what benefits ME, what makes MY life easier. Brace yourself, as I am bringing up the P word again … pandemic. There, I said it. It’s no longer a shock or buzzword, but I know we are all tired of hearing it as the excuse for everything bad in the world. At first, I was in denial. We can’t possibly blame the pandemic for labor issues, supply chain issues, global warming, my growing bunions. However, from my current point of view, I feel it’s now more true of a statement than ever before.
We’ve huddled in our homes hiding from the outside world for the last two years. We’ve wrapped our families up in this Batman-like cape of solitude. We’ve hunkered down, and we’ve hoarded. Why? Because we were told to do so. We’ve bought 45 gallons of purified water (which you probably have 43 gallons left) and 34 cases of toilet paper. (Just FYI, it makes great streamers for a bar mitzvah.) And we are lamenting over the cream cheese shortage – oh, our first-world problems.
Since fear is such a motivator, I kind of excused the “me behavior” during the height of the COVID craziness. However, we’ve been heading back to a somewhat normal way of life here in 2022, yet our selfishness seems to have gotten worse. Let me explain with a simple example: Recently, our local gas station closed due to having a short staff. THE GAS STATION. You know, the place we all need (well, except for us TESLA folks) to go to fill up our vehicle to get around this lovely Earth. I would go out on a limb to say that the gas station is a vital business for our everyday lives. However, the folks who used to work at the gas station have found that they would rather stay home and receive government funds than go back to their job.
Unfortunately, what they don’t see is that their decision has a butterfly effect on the world around them. The butterfly effect suggests that a small change can lead to larger-scale change/variation of reality. So, in this case, three employees choosing not to come back to work causes the store to close. What could come from that? The owner can’t meet his obligations to pay bills or other employees. Patrons must drive further to get gas. The gas station three miles down the street now raises their gas prices, as there is a much higher demand. That one decision by three people can affect thousands. Now, take that example and multiply it all over the city, state or nation.
Sadly, I see it everyday in so many situations. Let’s look at my day today. On my way to work, I was driving through the neighborhood. With homes still under construction, it can be like driving through a crazy-fun house maze. As I’m navigating down the road, I come to an impasse. A landscaping truck decided to park in the MIDDLE of the street, blocking all traffic from passing. Additionally, he chose to park next to a car on the side street that blocked anyone from being able to get through that way. I had to use my NASCAR skills to drive a half block in reverse just to find a spot to turn around. At that same time this morning, my husband, Todd, was playing chicken with a few cars in the local UPS parking lot. Folks were all clamoring for a space that didn’t require a theme park tram to get back to the store. As another UPS customer parked his car, he jumped out and literally ran ahead to beat my husband to the door to get in front of him in line. I am sure we were both thinking the same thing today, something that our favorite comedian would say: “Ooooh, this is YOUR world, it’s all about you, Captain You Planet …” Ay-yi-yi, that must be a pretty empty life.
Todd and I have been married for 32 years. I love that man more than a deep-fried Twinkie dipped in chocolate! What we have learned as we grow in our marriage is that we find the most satisfaction in learning how to make the other one happy. We ask, “How can I take the attention off myself and please my spouse?” In doing this, we have found a deeper and more unconditional type of love. And this is the attitude we are trying to project toward others. Let me tell you, that has not been an easy task. However, it is a much healthier and happier way to live. Truett Cathy put it best when he said, “Nearly every moment of every day, we have the opportunity to give something to someone else – our time, our love, our resources. I have always found more joy in giving when I did not expect anything in return.”
Join me in challenging yourself to choose kindness instead of anger. To brush off the little aggravations that don’t merit the time they steal from your day. Value each day as if it were your last.
Live well, my friends.
