The Act of Caring

Everyone leads such busy lives today that it’s easy to lose touch with the community around you. We get stuck doing the same daily routine and interacting with the same social crowd. It becomes easy to not wade out of our comfort zones. But is it an advantage? Most find it gets hard to notice things around you when you are going about your day doing the exact same thing over and over. Just like it’s hard to get a fresh perspective on other people around you if you only talk to the same person again and again. Ever notice how things look slightly different after coming back from vacation? The reason is because you were taken out of your normal element and forced to take in other sights and sounds. You view things around you that you didn’t notice before.

It’s hard to care about actual things when you are numb to your surroundings. People who don’t care that we have one of the most important upcoming elections around the corner are saying that because they are out of touch. Out of touch with the community, media, and world. Everyone is connected to one another. Not caring about small things also means not caring about the larger things in life. Things that could impact any individual. By simply telling someone, “I don’t care,” you are also saying you don’t care what happens to you. Any small act of caring can extend onto other parts of your life. It gives meaning to waking up everyday knowing you have a purpose. Whether it’s some project for work, or some relationship you want to improve upon, caring means going the extra mile. Putting yourself on the line. Taking a chance. Not caring can be numbing. Nothing would matter. No sense of purpose.

Those who find a cause they believe in and fight for it develop a deeper commitment to living fully everyday. They go to bed every night knowing that they did something that gave their lives more meaning. It also binds you tighter into the community making you feel like you are a part of the bigger picture and less alone. By caring, you are nurturing your own sense of self, giving you a sense of fulfillment.