WE ARE ONE
LASHA MORNINGSTAR
August 25, 2014
Do you want that to be your legacy? A look of shock and confusion crossed my friend's face. She had just told me of how long she had been at her job. Decades. I asked her how much longer she planned to be there. She said she did not know, that it depended on the machinations of the company.
That's when I dropped the legacy bombshell on her.
I did not mean to upset her or judge her. It is just she has so many talents and I can remember years ago when she had different dreams of what she wanted to do. One that I recall is to be a diplomat.
Now here is a woman who could dissect the most convoluted, delicate situation, understood history, loved to travel and knew exactly which fork to use. Besides, when she talked about diplomacy and working for the government, her eyes danced. But such was not to be. Life got in the way.
No, her eyes do not sparkle when she talks about this forever job. They used to though when she talked about traveling, teaching.
This has happened to so many of us. For the lucky ones, they find their passion, the career, work, profession that satisfies their mind and life path. And they stay there for life.
Oops. Society changed. Technology means information travels within a nanosecond. Wars, airplane crashes, births or royal babies, hockey game scores flashed within minutes.
Technology also means it takes over jobs - thousands of jobs - from those people who thought they were set for a lifetime. Families fractured. The homeless became a reality. Profound depression, mental illness and suicide weave their poisonous way through lives that often reach final despair.
One section of technology - social media - links people. For many, it is great. Lost friends and relatives are found. Information is exchanged. Joyful words, understandings that hit just at the right moment delight. Rescue organizations use social media to link abandoned/abused dogs and cats with loving homes.
This is when we see humanity in action, when volunteers spend time, effort, money, love and tears to save abandoned creatures' and homeless peoples' lives.
True, some rotters use social media to destroy others. Facebook accounts are hacked and lies inserted that could lose a person their job and friendships. Stories of youths' suicides hit the media. Gutless wonders, psychopaths, whatever one wished to call them, abound.
That is when gracious policemen, security officials hit the airwaves, visit schools and outline strategies students and parents must use to avoid such terrorism.
The ultimate simple solution - get rid of social media unless it serves you.
CHANGE TO SURVIVE
So what am I trying to say with these words? The world, society, Mother Earth is in a tailspin. Some good folk are sitting pretty. All too many of us are blooming terrified and struggling with how the dickens we are going to survive.
Since our beloved world is changing that way, we can and must change to survive too.
It's now that you snicker loudly. You've sent off scores of resumes, cold called, networked, told everyone you are job seeking.
The answer, dear reader, just might be new tools. A new job.
Scour every educational organization going. Go to the guidance counsellors. Volunteer - you never know where it will lead. Don't get caught up in the arrogant thought, "But that is a lesser job than I had before.'
Age is not a criterion. New grads cannot find work, struggle under student debt load. Older workers who go back to school go with hope in their heart. They do not listen when someone scorns, "Don't matter how many degrees you get, you'll never be hired because of your age."
NURTURE THE EARTH
That's not the only change. As the world changes, so does Mother Earth. She needs recycling. She needs to nurture those around her - the farmers' markets, the organic farmers themselves. Ditch pesticides. Clean the drains at the end of street to prevent flooding. Plant a garden for the bees.
Care for yourself. The only time I can tell when I cry is when tears roll down my cheeks while I am driving. If you need therapy, get it.
The key is to take action.
Lists are great. I get a $2 book at Dollarama and write down three things to do each day.
You'll discover what is best for you, what works for you.
And know the most important thing - you matter.
(Lasha Morningstar lasha@wcr.ab.ca)