Get Involved

It is too easy to become a Monday morning quarterback. This term refers to people who watch football on Sunday and on Monday declare all that their team did wrong. While watching the news we act in a similar fashion. Story after story appear that show the evils that people commit. We cluck our tongues and say it is all a shame. Positive change occurs only when we get involved.

My niece wanted to join the Girl Scouts. The school offered a meeting place but no one to oversee the club. My sister-in-law learned that there was only one other girl and her mother that held any interest in helping out. The two got together and decided to form the club even if they only had two members. Soon after, when other girls learned of the club's formation, more joined and more adults came to help. If it were not for my sister getting involved there would have been no club at all.

Volunteerism is on the rise. With more people without steady employment adults have idle time on their hands. Offering to help others is a great way to involve yourself in the betterment of society. Your city has volunteer opportunities such as with kids and the elderly. Civic service organizations would no doubt welcome a helping hand. Nursing homes, animal shelters and public libraries are all great places to donate some of your time.

When someone else is in pain please do not turn away. I know that it is difficult. If you witness an accident or a crime in progress do what is right. Call the police. Get the attention of passersby. Do not let the perpetrator get away with it! If you see someone skulking around your neighbor's property do not turn a blind eye. When you know that someone is hurt or being hurt you cannot ignore what is in front of you. If it happened to you would you not wish that someone had gotten involved?

Life is not merely a spectator sport. Things will not get better on their own. You can choose to sit back and criticize or step forward and make a positive change. What happens to others does affect us all. There is simply no excuse not to get involved. With tools like cell phones, the Internet and word-of-mouth we all have the capability to make things right. Take a stand! If you decide to sit on your ass and let the world just pass you by you deserve whatever you get. Just do not think for a minute that someone else does not deserve better.