Going Through the Motions

Why do we feel it necessary to do things we don't want to do in order to appease others? I had a recent conversation with members of my family about just this topic while making plans for the weekend. They found themselves attending events out of a sense of perceived duty rather than actual desire. Why do we so often feel as though we must do things to please others?

I get the idea that we sometimes do things for the greater good or as part of a larger team. What I struggle with is investing time in activities continually that do not benefit me as an individual. Am I really going to constantly work additional hours if I'm not compensated for them? Probably not. How long do I continue in an activity that is emotionally draining just because I perceive that my presence is expected? At what point do I accept the fact that I have the right and responsibility to do what makes me happy?

I'm all for living a life of service. I try to do things for the greater good on a regular basis. When any action becomes an act of laborious duty, however, it's time to evaluate its role in my life. The truth of the matter is that if I'm not experiencing some level of joy from my participation, I'm probably not contributing very much by just going through the motions anyway. When I come to this realization, it may be time for a significant change.  I guess the image below from Laurie Wallin (a speaker, writer, and Life Coach) sums up my feelings better than anything else:

Safety from the Storm

Like most Americans, I have watched with anguish the tragedy that hit the town of Moore, Oklahoma this week. Like many, I found myself asking why there weren't safe areas for our children. After all, Oklahoma is in the center of tornado alley. We know these storms are coming eventually. We know they can be devastating. We know that the safest place to be in order to survive a tornado is below ground in a storm bunker. Despite all that we know, people still die.

As I watched NBC Nightly News on Tuesday evening, I watched a report on this very issue. Most houses in this area (the delta of Arkansas included) do not have basements because of the clay in the soil. The soil composition would lead to lots of flooding and mold in traditional basements. To install a small secure room (either above or below ground) can cost $3,000-$5,000. Many families in the Midwest struggle just to make ends meet; the expense of a storm shelter is not an option.

I was hopeful to learn that many of the newly constructed schools include safe rooms that are able to withstand the high velocity winds associated with these storms. In order to add a sufficient safe room to an existing school will cost the district around $1 million. Even though there may be assistance from federal and state agencies, the money is simply not there.

Obviously there is not an easy solution to the situation. I don't have the answer. Neither do our government officials. Even though there is not an obvious answer, I think it's time that we as a nation begin to ask the tough questions that lead to a solution. Our citizens on both coasts are generally equipped with structures that can withstand hurricane force winds and earthquakes. Those living in the interior sections of the nation deserve and want the same level of security.