as of few days ago, superstorm sandy hit the northeast coast pretty hard.
many people lost their homes, their way of life, and sometimes their lives. a number of my colleagues and clients were devastated by it.
so i went into action.
i went into the basement, rounded up the 6 huge cases of H2O bath and personal products i put away for just these kinds of situations, and made a few calls after seeing a newscaster highlight a spot on a group of grassroots folks getting supplies, clothes, and food together to send to new yorkers. it was the right thing to do.
i did it because things happen and i am willing to support good people.
let me qualify that, though.
good people put their thoughts and words into action. good people get up stronger when they fall down. good people bring others with them and cheer them all the way. good people bring food, supplies, and money to those who are in crisis; they are the first to act on another’s behalf. good people pick up the phone, make a visit, or go beyond the electronic means. good people don’t need for others to know that they did the right thing for another – they simply did something right because it was the right thing to do.
… then there are nice people.
nice people click “like” on a facebook page and move on with their day. nice people talk about things. nice people smile at you and step out of the way if you fall down. nice people send TXT messages. they also are never around when someone is stuck in a bind, sick, or are in need of assistance. nice people do what is convenient.
nice people seem to miss the concept of service. they seem to be voyeurs of life.
but they don’t have to.
they can wake up and join those of us who live with purpose and serve others. they can choose to do something more than buy that commemorative $5 latte that donates 50 cents to a foundation that spends 90% of those donations on administration and “awareness programs” … maybe spend that $5 on some cards to be given to elderly vets at a nursing home? maybe skip lunch with friends and bring them with you to a shelter to help serve food, clean cages, or comfort a homeless animal? maybe spend that $5 buying a case of diapers or bars of soap to take to a homeless shelter?
… because really, that’s what a single mom whose home was washed out to the foundation doesn’t really need when she stands there, kids in tow, with nothing to her name except the wet clothes on her back and the winter chill shuddering down her spine … another flipping “like” on her facebook page.
i spent 3 hours with the lady who started it all at the makeshift donation drop (warehouse space donated by a small business owner) where a logistics company donated full services, churches brought food and water, and donors like me who like to stay anonymous bringing in truck load after truck load of personal supplies. they’d already made 3 full trailor drops to a red cross evac site that week.
apparently i was in good company … 2 FBI agents, an entire CFD station, a group of military medics, another of retired vets, and 2 other law enforcement wives showed up … leave it to first responders and their families to meet the challenge and step up with food, supplies, clothing, and household items …
i love social media like the next person. i even let it suck up hours of my time too. but i won’t sit back, complain about how bad things are in this world, and do nothing.
so at least once a day, i do something that makes waking up and taking a breath worthwhile. even if it means the inconvenience of driving out to the burbs in traffic to donate cases of soap and shampoo for hundreds of displaced people i don’t know. its just the right thing to do and i’m honestly ashamed of those who put their heads in the sand.
so when you finish reading this, i encourage you to wake up, pull your head out, and actually do something. make me eat my words.