Why is getting involved so important for all of us, both personally and collectively, in these challenging times? From a personal standpoint, expanding your world and relationships is one of the best ways to deal with our volatile world. We benefit collectively on a national and global basis by having and understanding a variety of ideas and points of view.
There is no doubt that we're all facing challenging times. Bankruptcies, mortgage for closures, job losses, and extremely volatile financial markets are in the headlines daily, if not hourly. Unemployment in the United States and globally, is as high as it has been since the depression of our parents and grandparents in the 1930s. Under these circumstances, it's no wonder that we want to turn on the television or cruse the internet and watch mindless entertainment for hours on end to escape.
But escapism is the worst thing that we can do under the circumstances. Alone with our thoughts, we can easily become depressed. Hopelessness spirals downward like light drawn into a black hole in space.
I witnessed one very good example of people who get involved. I often attend the annual Special District Association conference as a board member of the Lookout Mountain Water District. This association is made up of special districts across Colorado and includes water, sewer, parks and recreation, fire and emergency services districts. These special districts are the core of local government in many areas of Colorado, especially in rural areas. There are typically about 1100 people involved in special districts in Colorado which attend this conference.
In the past few years of economic downturn, revenues for most of these local governments were falling; infrastructure was failing and unemployment was chronic in the service areas of many of these special districts. You could sense the concern and even fear on the minds of many. After all, many of these people have spent a lot of time trying to make our lives easier, more secure and more stable. Their lifelong efforts are being threatened by current global challenges.
A few years ago, the Special District Association brought in a keynote speaker that cut through all of this to the core of the issue. His name was Steve Ford, second son of President Ford. Mr. Ford talked about his life in the White House at the age of 18. He discussed the trials of alcoholism and living with Betty Ford who broke through many of the taboos regarding celebrities with addiction problems.
Mainly though, Steve discussed his two nieces who challenged him to make more of his life. He had a very successful movie and acting career, was the son of a president and had conquered the ravages of alcohol addiction. These two young people, while giving Steve credit for all of his success, noted that he could do so much more.
Steve, as part of this challenge, took three years away from his acting career and busy schedule and started speaking to kids in Africa, high school kids in America and inmates in prisons. His anti-addiction message was very uplifting. During this time he spoke to over 65,000 high school classes in America alone and impacted countless lives.
You don’t have to be Steve Forbes, or even involved with a local government to get involved. There are many ways which you can make an impact both personally and nationally.
For example, America is in the midst of the 2012 presidential election year. While many of us take our right to vote seriously, how many of us actually review the policies of each of the candidates and make an informed decision. Most of us listen to the party line and vote accordingly. It is easier to take the canned platitudes and media sound bites, rather than research and try to understand the underlying issues. Issues such as the financial crisis, the health care system, wars in foreign lands and the energy crisis are just a few of the challenges facing us, locally, nationally and globally.
By H. Court Young
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