All Quiet on The Western Front?
My heart goes out to all those Southeast communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. While serving in the military, I traveled through war-torn countries decimated by the power of human fighting. Yet, seeing the devastation in America's heartland caused by forces of nature alone is surreal.
Until the week when the weather system drastically changed landscapes and lives, most Americans were swirling in the usual chaos that happens every four years around presidential elections: how is the economy doing, is healthcare affordable, and what are plans for addressing crime? That somewhat numb, repetitious thinking quickly shifted for many when they saw the magnitude of destruction. The pervasive thought became hyper-focused: "Are we taking care of our fellow Americans?"
In one sense, it's unfortunate that it takes such an extreme event to trigger this shift. In another sense, it is an excellent reminder of our capacity to question our thought processes—do we operate daily with a steady level of empathy, and do we feel empowered to help others?
Where There Is A Will
If you have ever said, "I wish there were something I could do," you have a will. You have consciously considered what another person is going through and feel somewhat pained by the situation. You might still need to figure out how to lay out an action plan around it. But the intention is there.
In 30 Worthy Guides for Mapping Your Best Life, I note, "Empathy is our ability to relate to and respect others' experience—whether or not they mirror our own." And if you have ever road-tripped across the United States, you have an appreciation for how diverse we are from state to state. From city to country living, a person can grow up in many different ways. However, our common thread is knowing that we all benefit from our Declaration of Independence—the endowment of certain unalienable rights, including "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." And those rights give us the power to see potential. ? ? ??
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There Is A Way
Hang out on social media long enough, and you'll probably come across content built around the relationship discussion of "If they wanted to, they would." But is it that simple when we desire to take action on something?
It may be if we step away from a savior mentality. Maybe our role isn't to fix the problem as a whole but merely to help the person get set up for the next step to achieving their goal. Or maybe we haven't thought about other ways we could be helpful in a situation. I saw this a lot when I worked at a nonprofit—"Many people mistake money as the only resource they can give to support...In reality, I always presented options—time, talent, or treasure" (30 Worthy).
For many wishing they could make a difference for their fellow Americans living through post-hurricane damage, I encourage you to put your heart out there. Ways to get started:
Our nation will continue to have a news cycle that pushes us on to information about more recent events, but we need to hold onto the fact that these communities will require years of healing; they have been traumatized. It's important that we don't let a lack of news from the "front lines" grow. For one day, it might be our local community in need, and we'd want to know that we weren't alone and that people care.
Note: This article was written before Hurricane Milton landed in Florida. Please visit Florida's Red Cross and other local nonprofits to see how you can also help those families.