XXVIII. The Power Within Your Grasp

A quick note to make sure your kids know what Memorial Day means. Don’t assume they do. Freedom is not free. While I would like to see us continue our recent trend of diplomacy before a show of force, never forget that democracy must ever be on guard for both internal and external threats.

Despite all of the tech, all the shares, the likes, the connections, and digital friends, this decade may be known as the era of Net Alienation.

Everywhere I turn, I see evidence of people lost to everything but their phones. If Bin Laden were considering the long game from the attacks of 9/11, this would be the outcome he wished to see. A people turned inward from fear and being fed continuous amounts of dogma to replace the human touch.

But all is not lost.

Where some look for meaning in all this, whether invisible hands or an angry God, I see a series of man-made missteps and lack of leadership that can be reversed.

When times are tough, we have ample evidence of enough people coming together to work for the greater good. The United States exists today because a majority, not all, of colonial Americans decided things could be better. Since that time, we survived invasion, civil war, the depression, world wars, displacement, Black Friday, packed courts, extinctions, slavery, carpetbagging, Jim Crow, and so on.

Though we will never be 100% in union on almost anything in a democracy, we need the courage to be involved with the greater good again, to expect more from ourselves as citizens just as much as we value being individuals.

If you look for examples, you will find them.

The stories in this issue are the kind of people that keep us afloat. Citizen actions that keep spirits alive and bring happiness to others. If we fall into the trap of viewing life only as a series of transactions, the public commons will continue to erode.

Don’t let that happen on your watch.

Do something selfless, with no strings attached, no expectations of return.

Take a moment to give thanks for someone from your past.

Make a new friend in person, and take an old friend to lunch.

• _{With evidence of plastic having no end to its ability to survive, let’s at least have the courage to get rid of items we have alternatives for.}

• _{Need another reason to read? This study compared reading to yoga and found that reading for 30 minutes lowered blood pressure, heart rate, and psychological distress just as much as 30 minutes of yoga.} 

Cousin Debbie sent this one. We’ve been in our current home for 25 years. During that time, we’ve noticed a number of bees and butterflies and there is a diverse amount of birds that call this block home. We’ve added a number of plants that attract and provide food. The house has only been sprayed twice in all these years, and I have a hand sprayer I’ve used very rarely around the yard. We have very little “nuisance” bug problems, though I have a theory that we benefit from neighbors spraying their yards.

We do put a lot of excess yard waste at the street, but we also compost and use a corner of the yard for some branches, old Christmas trees, etc. We routinely plant milkweed for the monarchs (probably one of the most interesting species to attract). We’ve had bees in the yard that are so drunk and weighed down with nectar, one can sneak up and rub their backs without them flying off.

This piece is a reminder that we are all momentary caretakers. Though the insect world around us has been here for much longer, we have an outsized ability to impact what nature took millenniums to create. It’s important for each of us to support the normal routine operations of the bug world around us. They’ve been working much longer than we have.

I had the privilege of meeting E.O. Wilson years ago, the great naturalist mentioned in this article, whose last words to us was, “be kind to the ants.” I still think of him when I see a small bug and sometimes envy those who know early on what they have a knack for and spend their entire lives devoted to it.

Conservation has its deepest roots in recognizing the smallest bits of nature, and it begins right here in your yard. What you know, what your kids know, has a much higher likelihood of survival.

Show them.

My grandfather and his wife were Meals on Wheels volunteers for many years in Texas, once winning an award for Volunteers of the Year. They were in their 70’s. In many cases, they were the only person that a resident saw or talked to that day of delivering the meal.

This is a perfect example of how programs like this are more than just about food. It’s also about human connection. On one occasion, my grandfather found an elderly man in terrible shape and he ended up in an ambulance. They took the man’s dog home to care for it and ended up adopting it when the man did not return home.

When you hear about efforts to cut expenses, consider these social multipliers. They always give back more than is put in. It’s the kind of thing that can’t be measured by straight cost accounting, much as our healthcare system is suffering from. The more we treat everything as a transaction, the more we will lose what makes us human.

Note again the age of the volunteer in this story.

One thing that will get you through life with peace and contentment is to know your neighbors and colleagues in more ways than just their proximity. Here’s neighbor and newsletter subscriber Sri Kothur with his sweet girl, Abbey, who placed third at the AKC trials. Sri and Abbey live just across the street. This good girl barks at us from her window like we are villains, but then will run to see us if she is outside with Sri. Speaking of running, watch Abbey’s work in the video at the AKC Championships. Sri is not only a great neighbor, but a community asset as a mental health counselor in the Big Bend region.

Speaking of public servants, here are some great tips from well-known child advocate, Jack Levine. Jack is a local resident with national cred who I am honored to know. He has worked tirelessly to bring attention to the needs of youth. He has his own newsletter you can sign up for by dropping him a note. Here’s the part I wanted to share. These nuggets of wisdom used to be taught routinely in homes and schools, and if you didn’t get it then you could pick up a book or a course by the great Dale Carnegie. They remind us to do what makes us better humans.

Here’s Jack:

“As we work to achieve our personal, familial and professional goals, I suggest keeping these Ten Tips for Success in mind....

~ After each encounter with someone new, reflect on what you heard and what you learned. 

~ What you say about someone reflects more on you than on them. 

~ Think first and speak later. Regret is often preventable. 

~ Where you go, arrive with open eyes to experience something new.

~ Resolve to be the most positive, kind and considerate person in the room.

~ Ask at least three questions of others before you share about yourself.  

~ Give every person you meet a reason and a way to keep in touch.  

 ~ Remember names, but if you forget a name, politely ask to be reminded.

 ~ Advocate for people who need your voice and causes which make a difference in the lives of others.

This is a lovely story that shows the power of parents instilling curiosity, exposure to the outdoors, and ability to just roam freely. Too much of the time we get caught up in wanting things controlled, planned, and in order. The very things that leave little room for discovery. Conservation is about promoting curiosity as much as protecting species. When you get outdoors with your kids, be there with them, in mind and spirit, without all the tech.

And Now….

Thank you for the tips and encouragement. Check out the t-shirt link below where we have a number of one-of-a-kind designs that will keep growing as the newsletter grows. The Honey Bear t-shirt is a personal favorite. If you want a good book for a graduate, Leadership for the Quiet Revolutionary below has lots of No BS tips to stay authentic and work toward accomplishment.

Hope to see you next time. Get farther in your reading this week, drop a note to a friend, practice being grateful, and remember, we are all in this together so: Be a good human.