Yesterday I was on my way to work (I walk) waiting for a conference call with Calling All Crows when I saw a girl crying on the street. Her white car has been spray painted over night with bright red sqiggles. I stopped and talked to her and wish her a better day, all she could say is, "why would someone do this, who has it out for me?" This got me thinking about common respect and decency.
In a time where texting is more prevalent then phone calls and facebook seems to have taken the place of real friendships, does anyone actual care about people anymore? Yes I know that this is a bold statement but I mean it on a deep, personal level...do you care enough to CALL and not text, to send a letter and NOT FB message or email....do boy scouts still help ladies cross the street? Do people smile at strangers? Do people practice random acts of kindness? Do people not experience road rage and just enjoy the ride?
Do people say excuse me? What about please and thank you? Do people open the door for people? If someone trips does someone help them up?
Showing respect to strangers acquaintance is one thing, but do people respect their friends? Do you say you will do something, then not? Do you stay in touch with old friend while cultivating relationships with new ones? If you make a mistake, do you apologize..and mean it? Do you take advantage of kindness? Do you put others before yourself?
I think all of this comes with age. My college roomie and I were talking on the phone last night about how we don’t even like to tell the people that color our hair we don’t like it…Do you start to care more about others later in life. When you get out of your early 20’s (selfish stage) and are in your late twenties you look around and want to make the world better…it all starts with respect.
Brad and I were talking awhile back and he truly believes nobody really give a flying fuck about anyone but themselves…he truly believes nobody cares how his day was or what he is doing with his life ( I DO!). He actually pointed out that he think I care but couldn’t name more than 2 other people. I told his I believed people still care (though I have my doubts) and he asked said “HOW CAN YOU” and I told him, "I couldn’t be me and live the life I want or do what I do if I didn’t."
Ash, I totally was talking to my mom the other day about how technology replaces real relationships. Honestly, the friends that care to keep in touch with me, do! I may not have 500 friends on Facebook, but I have my true blue friends that write letters and call and a text here or there. What will our children become? Will boys just ask girls out through text messaging? Remember when Burger broke up with Carrie Bradshaw through a post-it. I bet kids today wouldn't think that is weird at all. There are so many selfish people in the world, but we can't lose hope that there are still kind people. Today Matt and I helped an old lady get her package at the post office. She was so grateful and taken back by the act. I think teaching is one way for me to instill good values in kids. They may not grasp on to the idea at first, but even if I can get one kid to grasp it, they can help pass it on. Maybe we were those kids who our teachers or parents got through too. Tell your brother he rocks!
ReplyDelete