When’s the last time you hung out in the ghetto or visited a drug rehab center? When’s the last time you sat on crates in a poor man’s house to have dinner or sat down with a boy who’s been abused? When’s the last time you visited a war-torn country or watched an innocent person die?
A person’s perception of the world is based solely upon what they surround themselves with.
Most people only surround themselves with whatever is comfortable for them. Once they place a toe outside of their comfort zone they scurry back to the safety of their home. They shield their minds from what they’ve seen, until the memories are nothing but a blur.
They allow information to penetrate them, but as soon as they start to “feel”, they flip the switch. They avoid the news like the plague. They turn away from sad images and close their ears to tragic stories. They like to pretend that the affairs of the world are nothing more than what they can see in their own backyard.
Their perception of the world allows them to play with their kids, walk their dogs, go to work and enjoy vacations without a second thought. Their perception causes them to breathe easy and to stay happy.
Then suddenly, something is thrown into their line of sight that they didn’t expect.
War comes to them. Their teen becomes an addict. Their friend is killed. A shooter enters their child’s classroom. A tragic story is played on the news, seen on social media or overheard at a restaurant.
All of a sudden their perception isn’t so comfortable. The world that they have worked so hard to avoid has made itself known. They can no longer deny that people are hurting and suffering all around them. They can no longer force their feelings down. They are consumed with sadness, anger and questions of why. They develop a sense of urgency around the need for change.
They got uncomfortable.
Maybe if they wouldn’t have waited for the problem to come to their own backyard before realizing the need for change, then it wouldn’t have come at all. Instead of burying our heads in the sand and enjoying the confines of our own home, we need to look outside and see the world for what it is and for what it’s becoming. See the pain, the division and the decomposing nature of society.
Let the news stir you. Allow yourself to feel, even when it hurts. Get uncomfortable. Only then will change happen.
Inspired by recent events and this post. Although I respect her opinion, I’m one of the few who disagree.
Me - Who am I? 
Thanks for this post! I agree wholeheartedly!
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You’re welcome. Glad you agree. Thanks for reading!
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Agree totally. I’m not ready to do it myself. My own world is too chaotic for my tastes already.
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I think that happens a lot. Lots of people want change in the world, but they’re already spending so much time trying to change things in their own world.
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I couldn’t agree more. I tried to shield my 13year old from the photo on the front of the paper but then I decided not to as we had already discussed what was happening. Yes she was upset but then she spoke with the wonderful thinking of a child, she said, ‘If my baby was to die I’d wish he was that baby’. She has already witnessed today the change in attitude here in Ireland and is aware that photo will save thousands.
We have heard for months what was happening, we have not listened. We have seen the overcrowded boats and the desperation and ignored it. Until yesterday when we saw that baby boy and realised at last that this is one of our children.
I am reminded of Martin Niemöllers words,
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
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Martin’s word are right on the mark. He’s exactly right. I agree with you that sometimes we must see graphic, heart-wrenching pictures in order to understand the full impact of the situations around us. That will help us to get in motion and start working toward a solution, just as it has there. We may not like to see those things, but if it works then it’s needful.
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Yes if everyone was like me and you. I wrote a blog on something similar today. We do think alike
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I’ll have to read it. We need more people to *see* worldly matters and realize that just because it may not effect them personally, changes still need to happen.
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Absolutely!
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I like this post! Living in a different country gives you a whole new perspective. The news is very real and you see lots of things you can’t imagine. My in laws all live in Syria and so it is a daily reality! I like your post because we all get wrapped up in our own lives and forget the world around us!
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I can’t imagine living in such conditions, and that’s one reason why I think that it’s so important that we see the world around us. There are people in the world who are hurting, who could use our help. Also, if we’re not careful here and let people do whatever they want and if division continues, then we too could end up like those countries.
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Yes so important to see the world!
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Wonderful post! Thank you very inspiring indeed!!
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Thank you!
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I’m having a hard time coming up with the right words so as not to come off as argumentative, so please allow me to say before I write that my tone is one of calm and understanding.
For myself, I don’t believe I need to be any more uncomfortable than I am now. Have I watched a kid being tortured? Yes, my own, albeit for his own eventual good. Would I help anyone in need regardless of the selfless work I already do? Yes. But for some of us who are tied inextricably to home, we can only do what we can from home. Seeing that picture isn’t going to make me do more than I already am. In fact it took me longer to find out exactly what happened than it would have if the picture hadn’t been plastered all over the media.
I agree, there are many people out there who need to see it before they’ll get off their butts to do something. But that doesn’t go for all of us.
And to answer your question, yes. If everyone was like me, changes would be made. I quite happily vote for the people who would make changes for the better and give money to those who can physically get away to help. I have been doing so for years, without the aid of photographs.
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Linda, thank you for commenting on this. I understand that you’re not being argumentative, and I hope that you understand that I wasn’t trying to attack you or anyone else. I had already planned to write this post before ever reading yours. Then after running across your post and especially when reading one of the comments, I was inspired even more to write it.
I understand your point and you’re right that not everyone may need to see pictures such as those. But some do and just as Tric pointed out, because of that photo changes are being made. It would be nearly impossible for the media to pick and choose who needs to see it and who doesn’t. I’d prefer that everyone did, simply because all too often people like to ‘ignore’ what’s going on in the world or at the very least limit their exposure to it. Unfortunately however, that doesn’t help anyone because eventually those problems will come to our own backyard too. Not everyone is able to work toward change without seeing the whole picture. People are visual and therefore it often takes visual cues to get them to truly open their eyes to such horrible situations. I’d be willing to bet that you are one of the very few who can get a full understanding of a situation by only hearing about it and not seeing it. Thank you for the help that you do provide in making changes. The world would be a much better place if there were more people like you who do that.
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Interesting post. I don’t disagree with you but I don’t think you need to seek out difficult situations. I think they find you. It may not be those that are encountered in third world countries, or what shows up on the evening news but I think everyone, at some point is dealing with their own form of difficulty which leads them to places they never thought they’d be. In between those moments people look for a degree of normalcy and yes, they hide, but only for so long. Eventually it finds us all again.
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I completely agree with you. I don’t think that we need to seek out difficult situation either. But there are many situations that are occurring across the globe and even in our own cities that we shouldn’t purposely avoid. There is so much in the world that people ignore out of convenience, that whether we like it or not, it will eventually effect us all. Those are the situations that require us to stand up and speak up. We can’t ignore it all and still believe that everything will be okay. Normalcy is nice…for a time. But, we can’t stay there forever.
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I agree
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Thank you for this clear and straightforward take on the prevalence of ” … but as soon as they start to “feel”, they flip the switch.” This is how we are conditioned to react across the board, whether it be world wide tragedies or one in our own family. Get to feeling good ASAP is the goal. It’s not even conscious and it’s well-meant. Articles like this help to raise awareness.
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You’re exactly right and it’s no surprise that we do that. After all, no one likes to feel anything unpleasant. Unfortunately, doing so helps no one. I know that I’ve certainly been guilty.
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Just a fabulous post! I totally agree. People love the idea of “if I close my eyes they can’t see me” or “if I close my eyes then it’s not real” but denial of that level is so unhealthy and unrealistic. I continually remind myself of the Gandhi quote “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” It’s so true! Nothing changes unless we open our eyes and we change ourselves and then help others to change. I do think it’s important that change doesn’t have to be big or sweeping, it can start small because even the small changes can have a wonderful ripple effect. 🙂
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You are about that. It’s a lot easier to pretend that everything is perfect than to face what’s really happening all around us. I think that a lot of people close their eyes to situations because they don’t believe that it effects them personally. But, somehow someway everything effects us. I absolutely agree that the change doesn’t have to be big. Even the smallest of changes can have the largest of impacts.
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I had to hide my head in the sand because it overwhelmed me and brought me deeper into depression. I like to be informed, but it sure plays havoc with my thought processes. I carry the worry and the wanting to make a difference to the extreme. When I can’t meet my expectations to ‘make it all okay’, I swirl the drain. I am learning that one person can make a difference however small it may be.
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That’s understandable. I think that for some people, facing the harsh reality of others and their situations is just too much to bear, especially when they have so many issues that they are trying to work out in their own lives. But, you are right though that a person, even with the “small” things they do, can make an impact on the world around them.; sometimes a life changing impact.
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I’m not ignorant of all news, but I can’t handle repeated news. I don’t know the answer to the idiotness of the politicians, how to stop people from shooting each other, how to stop people from breaking into homes, how to help other countries stop the atrocities being committed. The more I think about it the less significant I become. I’m informed just not absorbed in the ugliness. I do what I can do and that’s all I can do.
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Oh I believe that. A person would have to live on an island not to know at least some of what’s going on. :)It is discouraging not being able to put an end to things and not knowing how to. If only we could only flip a switch and change the world. That would be grand.
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Magic wands would be helpful as well.
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Great message MeWhoAmI. I will admit that I tend to not watch the news, I see a lot of bad/sad/horrible things because of work so I tend to not go looking for them ‘after’ work. But you’re right, we can’t and shouldn’t, ignore it.
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I understand that and know a few others just like you. It can cause us more anxiety than we want to deal with, but you are absolutely right that we shouldn’t go out of our way to ignore it. Pretending that something doesn’t exist, doesn’t make it go away.
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So true. Just simply true MWAI. Other than blogs, I’m not finding a lot said about it any more. Which is just as sad. More so.
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Wow, this really could not be more true at a time like this. I agree that I, personally, am very afraid when it comes to exposing yourself or making yourself vulnerable to pain and suffering, but it is just vital for growth. Thank you for this reminder that opening up is something we all should do 🙂
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It can be scary. No one likes pain, but like you said, that is how we grow. The most important lessons in life are usually from painful experiences. We can’t run from situations or the reality of the happenings around us. We must allow ourselves to see it and feel it so that we can do our part (no matter how big or small) to change it.
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Reblogged this on Eclectic Evelyn and commented:
I do not usually reblog someone else’s posts but I thought this post was important enough that I wanted all of my followers to read it. I want everyone to “Get uncomfortable” and go out and change the world.
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Thank you for the reblog! Getting uncomfortable may not be enjoyable, but it can certainly be needful.
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Well done mewhoami, very, very well done.
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Thank you, Kate! I appreciate that.
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This is a really important post. I’m auditive and don’t need to see pictures at all. I do know that many need to see the horror directly to really get it. I have lived in a hell and don’t need more of that. I help where I’m able to help, also the beggars in front of our shops here. Many are very poor so all helps.
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I agree. Even the things we do around our community can help others. You are fortunate that you don’t have to see to understand. If all people could do that, then many of the countries and those who live there wouldn’t be in the situations that they are in.
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You are right.
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Very well said once again. Sorry for only reading the post now. I almost forgot that you shared the link with me. While reading I often thought “that’s me… and that’s me again…”. And I guess it’s me. But then I try to keep my eyes open and try to do my little bit. I admit, I’m not the volunteer who goes out there and puts themselves in the front line. But I do my part. A tiny part. Some might say (like with so many things) that they can’t make a difference as what they can do is not enough. But with so many things a little something done can go a much longer way than nothing done at all…
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I appreciate your ability to see yourself and I also think it’s great that you do your part. Even those things that we see as small can have far-reaching effects.As long as we speak up, put our foot down or help when the moment calls for it, that’s what matters.
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Couldn’t agree more! I get my daily dose of reality to ensure I remember that the world is a bad place and I need to always be aware of that for my children and my wife. 🙂
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That’s good to hear OM. It’s important to connect with reality for the reasons you said, and more. Thanks for reading!
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