Signs of hope for the future
Rick Harlow
What a perfectly wonderful start to the new year! The Jan. 1 front page of The Press shared many opinions/resolutions about our future from local “young” people, 13 to 30s. It was inspiring to hear so much good stuff.
We are pre- and early “boomers” in our mid-70s and get discouraged and saddened by much of the discourse (lack) these days. Intense tribalism with so many people cocked and loaded throughout our country is scary stuff. How we evolved so quickly from civility to today is subject to much discussion but not today.
Today I want to repeat some of the real-life comments from young people in our area. Their names are in Wednesday’s Press.
“Spread more love and less hate”
“Engage in healthy debate and be careful of online news”
“Do daily ‘little things’ that make others happy and ease their life”
“Stop talking and listen”
“Put aside differences and do what is best for our planet and people”
“Be helpful to others, even (especially?) if we do not know them”
“Take a little better care of our pets”
“Take much better care of our Vets”
“Stop being so radicalized and divided”
“More civil discourse”
“Put the phones down”
“Real health care for all. Period.”
“STOP, slow down and appreciate our planet”
“More kindness and compassion”
“More thorough education with more emphasis on mental health”
“Substitute curiosity for judgment”
And the first, from a 13-year-old: “Pay teachers and professional people like professional athletes.”
My personal wish and voice for this new year will be directed toward the phrase “coping skills.” Too many of us have no clue about that subject and consequently hurt ourselves and others by pretending anger, meanness, silence and “delete” will solve our problems. We seem to pretend more these days.
From Wikipedia: “Coping means to invest one’s own conscious effort, to solve personal and interpersonal problems, in order to try to master, minimize or tolerate stress and conflict. The psychological coping mechanisms are commonly termed coping strategies or coping skills.”
Thanks again to all the fine young people looking forward for us and Happy New Year to all.
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Rick Harlow is a Medimont-area resident.