Hey, Look!
… it’s yet another, “Reflecting on 2018 and Looking Ahead to a New Beginning,” post!
Not really. It’s yet another “perspectives” missive.
However, it was spawned from working on yet another same-old reflecting article…
A few days ago, I started looking for a image or two that might in some way help capture this crazy past year or, what may lie ahead. Fully expecting to use one of the thousands of pictures I’ve taken this year, somehow I wound up getting sucked into photojournalism shots scattered all over the web.
Winding up at National Geographic’s Most Compelling Photographs of 2018 page–which was indeed filled with compelling photos–I found myself particularly drawn into this image:
Those are Rohingya children struggling for food at a Balukhali refugee camp in southern Bangladesh.
Now I consider myself relatively bright, and in-touch with current events. I can point to Bangladesh on a globe, but I had no idea who the Rohingya were, or what a Balukhali was.
The Rohingya are a million-strong ethnic group who reside in Rakhine State, Myanmar. Over 700,000 of them have fled to refugee camps, like Balukhali in Bangaldesh. They are trying to escape mass rapes, killings, and genocide.
Bangladesh. One of the poorest, most densely populated countries in the world, opened their borders to the Rohingya in August. Now they are all overwhelmed and suffering.
Depressing, isn’t it?
My immediate reaction when I saw this image?
These people are so much worse off than I can possibly comprehend.
Over the last several weeks, I’ve been training to respond on the National Sexual Assault Hotline. The latest phase of training involves shadowing live chats with experienced responders.
It’s gut-wrenching at times. Privacy prevents me from sharing any specifics of what I’ve seen, but I can say this — the visitors to this hotline can be in serious, life-impacting (and threatening) anger, distress, and confusion.
My immediate reaction when I saw these chats?
These people are in more pain than I can possibly comprehend.
These flashes of suffering seen through the Rohingya refugee children and some visitors to a sexual abuse hotline are two tiny glimpses of real pain, anguish and suffering. While I can’t speak for anyone but me, every so often things like this smack me upside the head with a giant dose of perspective.
Look around at what you see online.
A 24-hour news cycle bombards us from the left, right and middle. The media’s click-bait content constantly in our faces, almost physically screaming at us.
“Marketing gurus” and “life coaches” and “personal trainers” and “influencers.” Experts and advisors of every flavor constantly beat mantras into our head, their weapon of choice the Facebook, Google or banner ad that follows you all across the Internet.
People in “community groups” bicker and snap at others and complain incessantly about every and anything that may remotely impact their livelihood, perceived way of life, or what they’re having for dinner.
It’s exhausting.
Meanwhile, there are 700,000 people on the other side of the world, facing starvation, disease and genocide. Just in the U.S., 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, anonymous users are queued up waiting to enter a chat room, hoping for any sort of help, understanding or empathy they can get after their world has been turned upside-down by rape, assault, incest, stalking, pedophilia, human trafficking.
That’s not just exhausting, that’s fucked up.
Not a call to save the world
I’m not publishing this to admonish anyone or guilt them into selling their worldly possessions and venturing off on a crusade to save the world. I’m a big fan of, “You Do You.” (As long as your You doesn’t get into my space, ya know?) But for the love of all the internet puppies and unicorns, for the sake of our collective conscious, how about just pausing for a moment. Really put your issues into perspective. *Think* before you act, stomp your feet, pout or whine.
I’m guilty. Shit, I get annoyed when it’s too cold and rainy to sail.
Think about that.
You’ve done it too.
-
- Mentally (or physically) giving that idiot driver the finger.
- Bitching when your team takes a dive in the big (or meaningless) game. Or doesn’t get invited to the Dance.
- Hatin’ on a website, or a competitor with a different business model or philosophy, or the weather. Hatin’ on anything — I mean, really?
- Politics? Don’t even get me started.
There is an endless list of possible things that drive you crazy, raise your blood pressure, make you want to slap someone, hurl your phone out the window.
Who needs any of that clutter, stress, anger, and bitterness in your life?
Sometimes, life sucks. It’s not fair. It hurts. But you are reading this, probably on a phone, maybe a tablet, at least a lap/desktop. It’s highly unlikely that you’re in a Bangladeshi refugee camp. (Sadly, there is a reasonable chance you are a victim of sexual assault, but hopefully you’re getting help with that.)
We can’t change or control some things. And let’s face it, none of us are going to save the world. It’s doubtful any of us will even change it, at least not by any significant level measured in the grand scheme of things.
But you sure as hell can make a significant impact on your life, and the life of your spouse, your partner, children, friends, family, co-workers, acquaintances. Maybe you can even make an impact on some random stranger by giving a little time, money, effort, or just encouragement and understanding to someone that’s hurting.
So do that. Focus on you, and those around you that matter. Look for the positives, minimize the negatives, the stress, the bullshit. Reach out and offer a hand, an ear, or a heart to someone that needs it.
Life can certainly deal us some really lousy cards, however it can also serve up amazing beauty, love, and fulfillment. Focus on the good, apply perspective to the bad. Take a deep breath. Recognize and enjoy all life offers.
2018 was pretty wild and crazy. Odds are overwhelming 2019 will be too–welcome to life. Embrace it. Live it.
Happy New Year folks. May you find good health, prosperity, and peace.
Oh man am I glad I know you. Thank you Jay, perspective is a beautiful thing but most of us (me) are simply to busy to get it. You do.
You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope some day you’ll join us
And the world will be as one…
Wishing you a beautiful new year
The Rohingya conflict is so complicated and overwhelming. As a people, they were literally chased out of Myanmar (f/k/a Burma) by the army – those that weren’t killed where they stood, that is. Aung San Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, US Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient, and current, since 2016, State Counsellor (President/PM/Supreme Leader) of Myanmar says “huh uh, that didn’t happen….”
But of course, that’s only one of many conflicts around the world. Some the US is involved in, some we aren’t. Syria? What will happen when our troops are withdrawn? Central America? We went in, stirred the pot, left. Now we turn away the refugees at our southern border who are fleeing those countries. And so on…..
What can we do, as individuals, lone voices in the crowd?
We can to EVERYTHING! Whatever we feel is right for us. For you, Jay, volunteering to work on the National Sexual Assault Helpline is your way of making a difference in a way that makes sense to you. Honestly, I don’t think I could handle that! But there are as many opportunities as there are people to address them.
No one is too busy or too poor to give!
Maybe, if you’re too busy, your best way to help is to contribute funds. Maybe it’s personally spending time volunteering – sorting food at Feeding America, or volunteering as a Big Brother or Big Sister. Perhaps inviting someone into your home for fellowship, or to provide housing to refugees, helping them get a start in their new country. It could be helping with a local youth outreach program, or walking dogs for a no-kill shelter. Maybe you could take time over your lunch break to give blood.
Giving is as good for the giver as it is for the recipient. Some would say better.
Thank you, Jay, for your eloquent words – you’ve got a way of reaching into people’s hearts and bringing your point home. I’ve gone on too long here.
My dream for 2019 would be to have everyone realize that they can do SOMETHING, that even what may seem like the smallest of actions is HUGE for the recipient. Don’t hesitate. Don’t think you can’t make a difference. Don’t think your small contribution is unnoticed or unappreciated.
We have so much. Even those of us who don’t have much, have more than so many.
If it’s in your heart – share.
Jay, I’m laying low tonight on New Year’s Eve and thinking about things. Your words gave me plenty to think about. Perspective is something to consider all the time. Our perspective VS another’s perspective often gives way to conflict. Instead we can just accept each other’s and move along. I sit in a warm home, with clean running water, heat and air conditioning, electricity, clean clothes, my pets eat better than the children from your shared photograph. We have so much, yet we still seek more. The refugees from countries south of ours who are seeking asylum in the United States and the horrible conditions and treatment we have shown them, changed my holidays. I am not going to share what I have done, but suffice to say, I felt compelled to give, especially knowing how much I have. My Christmas was excellent. I did not miss a thing. I think we overdose on so many things in the U.S.
Okay, my mind is drifting now and I really want to wish you and yours the best in 2019! Thanks for taking the time and being so generous with your thoughts. Happy New Year! ❤️
Well said. It’s what we’re called to do. Love-without ceasing. May the New Year be the year we put others first. Amen
We’re infected with First World problems left and right. One of the best things that every happened to me was getting to do some travel with the Navy. Visiting some ports where the poverty is magnitudes below what we have here in the States lends a perspective that will last the rest of your life if you let it. It’s my job to hang on to that perspective. Sometimes it slips away on exactly the things you mention.
Spot. On. Breathtaking with accuracy. You are simply the best.