ONE COMMON PURPOSE: WORKING TOGETHER FOR A BETTER FUTURE
By Bruce Strauss

INTRODUCTION

When you look at the front page of the newspaper, watch the evening news on television or listen to the latest report on the radio what do you get? Most of the key stories are about a problem that some individual has or a community wide dilemma. Yet with all of this real life negativity, the majority of human beings live their lives believing that tomorrow will be better than today.

Hope and optimism are the cornerstones to being human. Our collective spirit manifests itself into new opportunities and possibilities on a regular basis. Just as important to the human condition comes the unique choice we have of the way in which we perceive the future. While our minds can take us in any direction, we collectively strive for something better than only focusing upon doom and gloom. When something is amiss, we set our sights onto fixing the problem instead of burying our heads into the sand. We relish in the possibility of a future filled with success rather than one of continual despair.

For hope and optimism to eventually lead to a successful outcome we need to believe in ourselves and in our abilities. One of our strengths is the capacity to persevere through the most troubling of circumstances. We march forward not exactly knowing what the outcome will look like, but believing in a world full of possibility. This is a message you may have heard throughout your life, however take a moment and let the words really sink in. If you do, you will not only be open to the idea that anything can be achieved but also closer to that reality.

Look around and you will see things that you take for granted that at one time did not exist. Televisions, refrigerators, computers, and automobiles all spawned out of the notions described above. From heating systems and indoor plumbing to skyscrapers and multi-tiered stadiums, this vision for a brighter tomorrow may link most of what we see and use today. Thousands of items represent what is possible when human desire for something better gets combined with optimism and a determination to persevere.

A world of possibility does not limit itself solely to things. It reveals its hand in profound thought as well. Like a set of values that touch our soul or enduring virtues that reach our heart, possibility gives us inspiration to carry on. Whether it comes from a great idea or a timeless notion, the possibility for a better tomorrow transforms us by helping to forge stronger relationships and an enhanced way of life.

One Common Purpose: Working Together For A Better Future helps to lay a foundation to build strong communities woven together by our one commonality, a desire for a better future. Throughout the essay one can explore the numerous issues we face, the importance of our fellow man, and the role we all can play in creating progress. As you read, carry with you the hope and optimism that opens new doors in life and you may find that our one common purpose of working together for a better future can reap great rewards.

EVERYONE MATTERS

There are over six and a half billion human beings around the planet and this number is constantly rising. As our species grows and technology advances, we see an ever-closer world with different cultures and histories coming together. In this diversity of humanity we often bring light to the stark differences any two groups of people may have. Yet if we brush aside these outward contrasts in behavior and appearance we can find commonalities shared across our species.

As this essay tries to make evidence of, we share a common purpose of creating a better future. As we progress towards that future we must remember all of the people living across the globe matter to that equation. We all share the desire for a better life and we all must matter to one another in order to create it.

No one after all wants to live in a world filled with problems. Human beings have a caring spirit and want to see things go well. We do not want people to go hungry or become homeless. We do not want people to become ill or get hurt in an accident. Our collective spirit manifests itself in a desire for health and happiness for everyone.

Even though we want to live in a better world and possess this caring spirit, we often act in ways that can be contradictory and even completely opposite to it. We go about our daily activities doing what is personally beneficial, thereby making us appear not to care about anyone or anything else. We may not realize how thoughtless and indifferent we sometimes act, but having to meet a deadline at work does not justify brushing aside loved ones at home. Having to devote ourselves to our family shouldn’t be used as a reason to ignore the less fortunate.

Since life’s natural inclination is for people to focus upon one’s self, such behavior should not be the basis for scorn. While we may easily forget the interests of others, when another person matters we do things that are gratifying and helpful to them. We take time out of our busy schedules, whether that’s a few minutes or a few hours, and come to their aid. Our actions towards our fellow human beings, when they matter, represent that we are not simply self- absorbed but that we do consider what another person needs and feels. Keeping this balance between a normal amount of self-centeredness and remembering that our actions affect others can help improve the lives for all involved. After all, being human does mean we have the capacity to feel empathy for others and demonstrate our compassionate nature.

While these ideals can help you on an individual level, to truly create a better world requires it to become better for everyone. We cannot say we live in a better world if it only becomes better for one’s own family, one’s own community, one’s own nation, one’s own race, one’s own religion or one’s own ethnicity. Since every human life is important, working together and sharing in a better tomorrow are two essentials in creating the world that we seek.

Today’s society already works tirelessly to fashion a better future. Scientific breakthroughs are the result of this yearning. Our constant technological push forward includes everything from medicines that help entire villages fight disease to portable electronic devices that make the day just a little more enjoyable. Businesses often start from a vision of solving a problem or addressing a need not already met. Even political and philosophical discourses have their roots in what a better tomorrow may look like. Although it can prove difficult, by wading past the typical political jargon, one might find policies and practices stemming from the very notion of a world that benefits all.

Many undertakings not only seek to profit from enhancing lives, but also work diligently in the non-profit sector to help society. When we look closely at non-profit endeavors and the people who start them, work for them, volunteer to help them and donate money to them we see human beings helping their fellow human beings who need some kind of assistance. Most of the time these people do not know and will never meet the beneficiaries of that help, yet through their kindness, diligence and empathy they are committed to the idea that everyone matters.

By contributing one’s time to people in need we reduce the problems they face thereby giving them a better life that they so desperately want. Each time we help find shelter for a homeless person, renovate run down neighborhoods, feed the hungry or work with our youth in worthwhile activities, we help create a world with fewer problems. Our actions are directly linked to the world around us and the more we contribute to others the better the world becomes.

This direct correlation between valuing other people, having fewer problems, and creating a better world, finds supporting evidence in all areas of life. As an employee, don’t the owners of a company say that you are important when they improve work conditions and compensation? As a customer, don’t you sense a retailer cares when you’re treated with courtesy, kindness and respect? Similarly, a neighbor who keeps the noise down at night recognizes those living next-door matter by showing consideration. Contributing to the well being of others can run the gamut of actions small and large. No matter the endeavor, our actions can create fewer problems and help usher in a better future.

Believing that everyone matters places a commendable responsibility onto your shoulders. Giving of yourself is a choice, which often requires putting personal things aside to go where you are needed in the assistance of others. Such effort need not be seen as a sacrifice of one’s own desires. Personal aspirations and dedication to others do not have to be mutually exclusive. In fact, when applied with proper balance can only enhance both objectives. Knowing that a better life for others means a better world for everyone, including yourself and your loved ones, can bring even greater satisfaction in spending time helping those in need.

When we stand up together behind the belief that everyone matters, we are taking a valuable step in working towards a brighter tomorrow. This notion will not simply end our problems and it will not make us all get along, but it does allow for the possibility to focus time, energy, and attention on other people. When everyone matters, even the success of people in a far off land is important because we understand how that benefits us at home. Less problems for others anywhere on this planet translates over time into a more peaceful and productive world, with ideas being shared and useful products being made. Eventually, the rewards of helping others comes full circle because when others have what they need in life, they too can contribute towards our greater purpose of creating a better future.

EVERYDAY ISSUES

Everyday each of us wakes up in the morning with tasks at hand and challenges to meet. Some of us have children to nurture or elders who need a helping hand. Many have to deal with a commute to the office and work of forty hours or more per week. Our attention is also drawn to cleaning, cooking, gardening, running errands and a myriad of other daily activities that comprise a person’s routine.

Most of us, though, can handle these normal situations. When unexpected events happen our lives become more complicated than we want them to be. They can drain us of our energy and vitality. They may overwhelm us to the point of zapping away the joy and zest that lies within. Complications have a way of putting a burden not only upon an individual, but also placing strains upon families and even entire communities, all with the potential of taking years to recover from.

Problems seem to have a way of getting a vast amount of attention. We know about people being malnourished and starving. We know about the violence and destruction of war. We know about the lack of a good education or medical care. We know about the turmoil of addictions and abuse, whether self inflicted or brought on by others. As a collective society, though, we don’t seem to know as much about how to solve the dilemmas that confront us.

Solutions to almost every kind of problematic situation already exist. People around the planet have implemented strategies that have successfully navigated through and resolved particular problems. Individuals and groups have come up with remedies for all types of issues, whether they are simple or complex in nature.

Replicating what others have done elsewhere can greatly enhance our ability to remedy that which ails us. Although most problems lie at the individual and communal levels, seeking out global answers can undoubtedly reduce the size and scope of our problems. A worldwide problem-solving outlook may not always address every situation we encounter; yet if we continuously search for answers from others we will eventually find a successful way past even the most troubling of circumstances.

Discovering the true origins of our problems requires introspective thinking beyond the normal cause and effect. It is one thing to see a homeless man, feeble and unaided, and dismiss the situation as out of hand. It is completely different to ask oneself why this person may be indolent or even why he is just on the wrong end of chance. Whether this human being fell victim to a hurting economy or a family life too unbearable to remain at home, until we ask ‘why’ we will never be able to solve the problem from the source. Unless we ask ‘why’ we will only continue to put bandages on wounds that deepen day by day.

To ask questions that search beyond appearance and reach the depth of a given problem requires diligence in thought and attention. Each of us can consciously decide to focus time and energy into thinking about what really ails us. We can analyze what impacts us as individuals at home and at work. We can examine the challenges facing society such as our education, health, and energy systems. We can look into environmental issues and the impact we may have on our planet. We all have the ability to contemplate and deliberate in these areas, but do we have the desire to ask why problems occur and the willpower to really improve things?

One way to see our world is to first break down what we do into the categories that affect everyone, no matter whom you are or where you live. First, each of us lives our life as a separate individual person and there are specific issues that each of us must deal with. Next, each of us lives in a community and is part of the society as a whole. What occurs within that bigger picture often affects many, if not most, of the people involved. Finally, each of us relies on the Earth for its resources. The planet doesn’t just support our ability to survive but also gives us the materials that we use for everyday living. Once we establish these universal ties, we can further explore the issues that may impact people more geographically. Doing this enables us to not only see the work that has to be done but allows us to contribute in a more effective manner.

The more time spent in introverted thought, the better we will understand our problems. As individuals, having mental clarity and looking at situations objectively is of the utmost importance. Experiencing tranquility and serenity and focusing energy on what brings us joy and happiness uplifts us from our troubles. Our spirituality along with having a positive and hopeful outlook guides us past difficult times. Lastly, our physical health cannot be understated and the choices we make for our bodies require attentive care. All of these things interconnect within our minds and physical being and rely on one another for success. Putting emphasis on your thoughts, happiness, and health can be a catapult past any problem.

Attention to relationships should also be foremost in our minds. When thought about, a large number of personal issues arise from how we interact with other people. Whether a marriage or friendship, neighbor or work associate, family member or stranger; the relationships that comprise our lives matter to the happiness we enjoy. Like the commitment we know that is needed to maintain a house or the concentration we give at work, our relationships require the same in order to be healthy and harmonious. Even the most insignificant encounter with a stranger is significant to a world without problems. We all have a ripple on one another, whether positive or negative; and the size of the effect depends on the attention we give each and every relationship.

As individuals, the attributes we possess are within our control as well. Putting focus on bettering ourselves can come in many forms. Some may want to chart a new course in life. Others may desire more knowledge or more admirable qualities. A more successful life might be at the top of some lists, while another list may simply be trying to overcome a difficult loss of a loved one. Whatever your personal quest, uplift yourself by channeling your thoughts and energy into harnessing the resources possessed within you.

In addition to analyzing and accounting for the difficulties that affect us as individuals, those that impact society as a whole need attention as well. These issues run the full gamut from meeting basic survival needs to the energy requirements of large industrial nations. What they all have in common, no matter the scope of the issue, is a dependence on everyone to be a part of the answer. Earlier we discussed how someone else has already dealt with any particular situation somewhere on this planet. Finding solutions for educating the next generation, addressing the healthcare needs of an entire population, and advancing energy technology to meet current demands all depend on your participation. People already share massive amounts of information on how to solve problems but room for improvement will always exist.

Lastly, we must place emphasis on the one home we all share, Planet Earth. The Earth has played an indispensable and vital role for civilizations come and gone. Today we may not know what consequences our actions have for tomorrow’s planet, but we can try to understand our place in the long history between man and Earth. Respecting the notion that this generation is but a small link between the past and future will yield actions equally humble towards our home. Every one of us can make the choice to think with serious vigor and likewise proceed with a prudent eye on behalf of Mother Earth.

Our lives do not have to be filled with difficulties. People are capable of addressing the issues that face us, if only we place finding their solutions at the top of our priorities. By seeking out answers a person has only knowledge to gain, relationships to improve, and dreams to achieve. The consequences of thoughtful analysis and insightful action far outweigh the cost of continuing in the same manner of trial and error. Sure our world may not be perfect, but if you are already asking ‘why’, fear not for you are heading us in the right direction.

WORKING TOGETHER FOR A BETTER FUTURE

Communities are places where people live, work, and play. They can be huge cities with millions of people or tiny hamlets with only a handful of residents. Each one is home to those who call it so, and just like our homes are our personal sanctuaries where we feel comfortable in and can enjoy living in, so should be our communities.

In our homes, when a family member is having a difficult time with something another family member steps in not because it’s the right thing to do but because it’s the only thing to do. Parents help children, children help parents, spouses help each other and siblings help one another because of the loving bond between them. Advice may be given or the burden may be assumed for their loved one, but in the end coming to the rescue is what occurs in a healthy and loving family.

A community of people can be viewed similar to a family where there is a sense of a shared burden for the struggles an individual may have. There aren’t any second thoughts to helping a relative in need and there shouldn’t be any debate as to rising to the occasion when a fellow community member needs some kind of assistance. As with an individual family, it comes down to doing what is helpful because it’s the only thing to do.

Exploring what a harmonious home has to offer may shed light into ways to build productive, healthy neighborhoods. Look at what comprises the best parts of life in the residence you call home. Do people help one another with cleaning the kitchen or bathroom? Are the people you live with willing to give up time in front of the television so someone else can watch their favorite show? Whatever the example, do people sacrifice on the behalf of those they live with?

The same questions applied to communities at large yield equally important answers. When people maintain a clean street or pick up garbage that was never theirs in the first place, it speaks to the character of a community. Neighbors helping one another such as shoveling snow, raking leaves, mowing lawns, and bringing in trash cans shows the level of generosity present among a group of people. Taking responsibility to protect neighborhood children from getting hurt in the street exemplifies community. Helping elderly folks with their grocery shopping exemplifies community. Displaying care and compassion at all times exemplifies the sense of togetherness needed to turn that community into a place you call home.

As mentioned before, problems have a way of eating away inside of us and neighborhoods are the beginning and end point where troubles are felt the most. Small problems can grab hold of the largest community just as easily as global problems can trickle their way down to the tiniest village. Volunteering your time and energy proactively combats those tribulations in the community and creates the better future we all desire.

Let us take a moment and imagine how much good could be accomplished with a community wide volunteer effort. If only one-quarter of the citizenry spent just a few hours a month in volunteer service towards community betterment, a town or region of mere thousands would suddenly have tens of thousands of human hours of effort each and every month. A locale with one hundred thousand inhabitants would find little difficulty in securing hundreds of thousands of human-hours in community involvement. Whether assisting a neighbor in putting up a fence or helping the hungry get a bite to eat at a soup kitchen, volunteering can have amazing results.

Numerous ways exist to volunteer that might not automatically come to mind. Take whatever mathematics you know and help someone learn the basic skills that will assist him or her in acquiring work. Coach little league and pass on your baseball talents to a new generation in your town. The local animal shelter may need someone to help with feedings, and while it may be an hour or two out of your day once a month it can actually make the day for the future owners of the pets you cared for. While examples only serve as a paradigm, exploring the actual ways you can make a difference may reveal volunteer opportunities that you never before envisioned.

However we assist others, if our communities are to become the best they can possibly be then they need to become forward thinking and innovative places where people collectively strive to prevent problems from ever occurring, as well as helping those in their midst who have a difficult situation to contend with. The type of community described makes use of ideas that have proven successful elsewhere. They do not rigidly hold onto previous behaviors because by keeping an open mind to alternative methods of problem solving they may find an even better approach.

Innovative communities around the planet could radically change what occurs in cities and towns everywhere. People would help our youth in creative ways. People would be there to give assistance and guidance when difficulties arise in a relationship. People would form alliances using proven strategies that bring peaceful coexistence to diverse groups. People would know about and implement environmental programs that help sustain our planet.

In developed nations, innovative communities would come to the rescue that heretofore had been lacking. They would find unique ways to ensure the impoverished never went hungry, never became homeless, and always had proper clothing to wear. They would work together to refurbish run down buildings and parks. They would give encouragement and guidance to those who struggle to survive or contend with ordinary daily dilemmas.

In underdeveloped regions a well thought out approach to uplifting the poorest of the poor could forever alter lives. What would happen if hundreds of thousands of people in the developed world, who possessed certain types of knowledge and expertise, volunteered their services through the Internet? What would happen if organizations and businesses contributed their expertise as well as resources to this effort?

Fortunately, we do not have to imagine seeing this world come together. Countless people already volunteer their time and effort to causes spanning the globe. Technology presently employed brings us all closer and provides the chance to make a difference in our own backyards or even a world away. Through people acting upon their vision for a better tomorrow, communities and neighborhoods are being nurtured into places that we can all call home.

Now it’s our turn to continue to strive for that better world. Its my turn to stand up for your child’s education, it’s your turn to stand up for the neighbor’s welfare, it’s her turn to protect the water he drinks, and it’s his turn to stand up for us in return. Ultimately, it’s our turn to work together for a better future.

ACHIEVING GREAT PROGRESS

Progression takes us where it will

Or do we take it where we please?

A greater destiny we can fulfill

The evidence lies in our history

What made a man like Martin Luther King Jr. truly remarkable was that he believed and foresaw the day when the troubles of his time would pass and great progress would unfold. Just as the cold and discomfort of winter passes into the warmth and comfort of spring, so would injustices give way to a freer and nobler society.

The world in 1963 when Martin Luther King Jr. gave what has become known as his “I have a dream” speech is fading away. Barack Obama’s election as president of the United States is a testament to that. When you looked at the faces in the crowd on election night in 2008 and on inauguration day in 2009 you saw people who deeply believed in the content of one’s character and not the color of one’s skin.

For the people we admire for their greatness it has more to do with being in touch with the aspirations of those they speak to rather than the words that they use. From Roosevelt to Gandhi to King to Kennedy to Mandela to Reagan to Obama, the ability to convey loudly and boldly a way forward makes their messages pertinent in any era. Whether in their own times or years beyond, they so eloquently and profoundly remind us that everyone matters and because we live in a world of possibilities we can and will eventually usher in a better world.

The people who were in the forefront for changing the world for the better could not do it by themselves. Expressing remarkable ideas becomes nothing more than speech until they are followed by great undertakings. Ideas demand countless people working in the trenches, doing everyday tasks, to eventually facilitate change in society. Gandhi insisted on civil disobedience, yet it required immeasurable masses actually acting upon that belief to change India. President Kennedy’s vision for space exploration would have made little impact unless individuals took responsibility to see it through. These foot soldiers would undertake one positive step leading to another one and another one and so on until they achieved the better tomorrow that they yearned for.

Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. was the person at the forefront of the movement for equality for black Americans in the nineteen sixties but it was also the efforts by thousands of other people that actually changed America. The believers in a better future went out and had local, state and national laws changed. Journalists wrote articles and books about making a more just society. People talked about equality on radio and television shows. Many gave of themselves, not just with their time but sometimes paid for it with imprisonment or their lives. It is because of these individuals, most of whom we will never know their names, that a consciousness of equality is now more prevalent in the United States of America than ever before.

Every individual and every generation leaves a legacy that transcends their own lifetimes. It can be one that has a positive and beneficial affect or one that causes unnecessary hardships. When we go back a century, what would our lives and the world be like if our ancestors had gone a different course? Some of the negatives of this world may have been left in the past had people decided once and for all to focus on their prevention. Contrarily, without generation after generation of our ancestors striving for something better we would not be as fortunate as we are today. We are now benefiting from their insights and actions continuing to live on way past their time. Now it is our turn to rise to the occasion. What is it that we can do that will be our legacy to humanity years and decades into the future?

As the current architects and engineers for the world of tomorrow, turning the road we are on into a magnificent highway for all generations to travel down can be our collective accomplishment. As with any construction project, there will be roadblocks and setbacks. Inevitably, battles have to be fought and victories have to be attained. Turning what seems insurmountable into a smooth road ahead can become our success story if only we set our sights on its completion.

Even though the times dictate the dominant problems in a given society, the process to create a better future may be similar in all situations. An individual or a group brings the problematic issue to the forefront. Others then get involved, at first talking to friends, neighbors or anyone who is willing to listen, hoping to change the minds and hearts of their fellow citizens. Once enough people are brought into the fold, real change can occur with laws getting passed or actions taken en mass that create the desired effect. Eventually, the issues that were so overbearing become a thing of the past.

This process for great change can show itself even on a small, localized level. How many times have children who have been considered un-teachable been taught? How many times have polluted waterways been cleaned up? How many times have sworn enemies become allies? How many times have the impoverished in underdeveloped nations turned their lives around? The answer to each of these is more often than we may think.

Local communities and specific local issues have their own Kings, Gandhis and Mandelas. They are the individuals who speak out and say we have to do something. These community citizens do things that often are out of the ordinary, whether by challenging beliefs and attitudes or being instrumental in getting people to undertake new endeavors. Standing up for something better then becomes the initial foundation for an improved community, with those who follow years later as the ultimate beneficiaries.

There are lessons we can learn from one another that are more powerful and more enduring than those typically taught in classrooms and history books. Men, women and children from yesteryear and those who presently reside in other communities can teach us what works. Great progress in other places can be the inspiration we use to motivate ourselves to go beyond what we had previously thought was doable.

Achieving great progress requires as many people as possible to get on board. The more that volunteer, the more minds and hands we have working on our common problems, and the more we focus on becoming better human beings the sooner progress will be made. Those with insights in certain areas can contribute their know-how. People who are retired can lend their wisdom. The young can give their youthful energy and exuberance. Everyone has something they can contribute to community betterment.

Of all the people to get involved in making our future better, the most important group is the young. They will enjoy the long lasting benefits from today’s benevolent actions. Seeing how volunteering pays positive dividends will inspire them to even greater heights.

The youth of today will also become the adults, parents and leaders of tomorrow. There is no reason why they cannot be at the forefront of change. Learning now about issues and possible solutions will make them wiser when dealing with their own future world. By starting now the youth will be able to impact their own destiny like no other generation.

Great ideas touch us to the core of our being and inspire us to believe in something greater than ourselves. Deep down we know that everyone matters. Deep down we know that tomorrow has to be better than today. Deep down we know that we have to take that extra step.

Help create a legacy to be remembered, one talked about with admiration for years to come. Help usher in that better world, so far improved from today that our descendants will feel no choice but to utter these few words, “Thank you, we appreciate all that you have done”.

Copyright 2009 Bruce Strauss

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