What if we were our own complaint department? What if every time we complained about anything, we had to answer for it?
I'd like to imagine a world where, instead of complaining, we all DID something toward positive change of the things we don't like. If we're not sure WHAT to do, we would LEARN.
I watched two documentaries this week. One was about Trump, the other about Clinton. They can both be found on demand at CNN.
How many of us complaining about one candidate or the other have visited each of their websites, or learned more about them, have taken any kind of stand on the issue that we complain about, have written our congresspeople, have volunteered for a cause?
I found myself complaining this week (unrelated to the candidates or the election) and it was not pleasant. I had to make a conscious effort to ask myself what I could do to change my situation. After taking some action toward accomplishing some goals, I felt better. It seems as if to complain is to sit back and put blame on others, while giving our power away to them. We have our own power. We can do SOMETHING. In activating our own personal power, we can generate a more positive outlook within ourselves. If THAT is our state of mind, then we can open up our own creativity and be a part of solutions instead of just being a part of a chorus of complaints.
I'm going to put a complaint box on my dresser. I'll be responsible for what goes in, and I'll be responsible for answering all complaints as well. #LetsTryIt
I started a class this week. It's something I like to do when gig season gets a little slow. An assignment this week is to find news articles relevant to the course material and I am quite astounded by the lack of substance in available magazines and newspapers. Apparently, more people are interested in fashion, celebrity gossip and and slow cooker recipes than things like psychology, human development and educational topics.
On the way back home from the store that had a large magazine selection, a low tire pressure light came on so we stopped for air. As we waited a long while, with a trunk full of groceries getting warm and takeout food getting cold, the guy using the air machine before us continued fussing around with his tires. Finally, he asked Russ if HE knew how to check air pressure. The young man had overfilled one of his tires by an extra 12 lbs. and underfilled others by 11 lbs. Russ helped him fix it and began filling our tires when another car pulled up with three young males who began asking Russ questions also. "What is that thing you have there?" (It was a tire gauge.) "How do you know how much to put in?" I marveled at how little these drivers knew. I tried to imagine them doing taxes.
I've long wondered why taxes are not taught as part of high school curriculum. How do we all manage it? I remember going to a small business help center that was a pilot program sponsored by the I.R.S. and STILL ended up at a tax preparation service for help. I've attended countless music industry events aimed at teaching music business, read many books and had consultations from music business attorneys and professionals. I am thoroughly impressed by the knowledge that some industry professionals possess, while being completely astonished by other, successful individuals who lack the most basic knowledge of publishing and who don't read contracts at all.
AAAAND... Here we are getting ready for the first presidential debate this evening. Sigh. I've refrained from getting political here on the subject of candidates and I try to be respectful of other people's freedom to choose for themselves. Here's the problem though...
People are very busy nowadays. I don't mean this as a valid excuse (I mean, if so many of us can find time for social media surely we can find time to do a little research on candidates before we vote - or don't vote - for them). We (because WE ALL DO THIS SOMETIMES) get our information from unreliable sources. We believe things that we hear. We oftentimes do not adequately investigate enough to form our own opinions, but rely on what others are saying. What about when THEY TOO are misinformed? Social media posts that are completely incorrect often fly around like crazy. Fact checking has become our own responsibility much of the time and we don't do it.
Remember this commercial? Remember when we made fun of people who believed what they were told on the internet?
What about political candidates? If they say something it must be true too right? Uh, no.
So tonight, as an estimated 100 million people tune in to watch the debate, my hope and prayer is for people (myself included) to learn more. Why couldn't we all just do a little more research, find a little more information from varying sources about a topic that concerns us? I have this as an assignment for school. Why not apply the same work to a very important decision, right and responsibility we all have to collectively determine the course of our country, the world, and history? It's easy to complain about government and the system. How many of us that complain are actively involved in solutions?
Here's to our education. Let's just find out a little something more - DO a little something more.
