It seems like the cold and flu hit Northwest Ohio pretty harsh this year. For weeks our house avoided it, thanks to Elderberry syrup (at least I think it helped). Then this week it hit. Snot, ear aches, coughs… The whole shabang. Lily (my 2 year old) got put on an antibiotic and Jack (almost 4) got a baby Z pack. Then today, I can feel it coming on… a little headache, tired, a slight sniffle. I fueled up on Zycam and more elderberry with a touch a Dayquil. I am determined to beat this bug.
The whole idea of things spreading got me thinking about the idea of being “contagious:” to spread. We spread all kinds of things; germs, influence, ideas, styles, fire, hate, love, joy, despair, longing, etc…
Additionally, It’s Lent: the time of year where people give up something- sugar, fast food, alcohol, meat. This year for Lent, I am reading about giving up apathy. To give up something is also stopping. It is kind of the absence of spreading. Normally, however, something has to fill or to take over this absence. In absence of sickness, health resides. In absence of sugar, a smaller waist-line emerges. In the absence of apathy, there is empathy.
This week I have been doing a lot of reflecting on the world and the idea of apathy. I have been more mindful of how people interact, their language, their body language and facial expressions, where they spend their time and treasure, and how these actions impact them. In fact, I have come to the conclusion that a majority of our world is full of two things- hate and not giving a damn. Think about it, we spend a lot of time either not caring or complaining. How does that solve anything? How does that make your personal world any better? How does that help the world become a better place?
I was raised in an environment where problem solving and ideas lead to service, and ultimately allowing us an avenue for the ability to do good. Both of my parents have been members of the local Rotary Club for nearly 30 years. I have seen that club do some pretty amazing things for the community. Additionally, my mom was on a local school board for 8 years and is currently serving on other local boards. Both of my parents volunteered and served in leadership positions on different Booster Clubs affiliated with the schools. They were activists for change and good. They cared enough to get things done, and helped lead the way.
This calling to serve and leadership has been passed down to me. Apathy has never been one of my problems for things I am invested in. For example, at the studio, I care and I want to help (both with members and the way it runs). With Toastmasters and other organizations I am involved in, I care and I want to help people and the organization excel.
But this week I have noticed that there are tons of things that I am totally apathetic to as well. With my reflection of apathy I have learned that I have created a “Shelley bubble,” which is a world where I turn everything that doesn’t affect me off. If I don’t experience it, it doesn’t exist. Homelessness, hunger, debt, health issues, drug issues, etc are not problems I have faced, nor do I ever plan on facing. In fact, in all honesty, they totally scare me, and therefore, I work hard to avoid debt, starvation, addiction, sickness and more.
This lent, I am facing my fears. I am not going to be able to solve the world’s problems in 40 days (and honestly I really don’t want to). But, I am going to do something that I normally wouldn’t do. I am going to think about them. I am going to face reality and come to terms with these problems really do exist and they exist locally. I am going to pray for the people who are suffering through them. And I am going to be thankful for the fact that I am fortune enough to not have to deal with them. Instead of buying tons of new clothes and throwing my old one’s away, I am going to donate old clothes to the shelters, and put a few extra dollars in the collection basket at church to help St. Vincent dePaul. My efforts may not be anything big, but recognizing the world outside of “Shelley’s bubble” is a good start, and with recognition comes thought, and with thought comes ideas, and with ideas comes planning, and with planning comes action, and with action comes change.
My parent’s recognized this process and were able to be instrumental in many changes. Perhaps it is time that I do the same, while continuing to be thankful that I am in a position to do so. And it starts now, during lent, by stopping my apathy bug.
