A Better Way Begins Today

By HEATHER C. COX
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com 

Heather Cathleen Cox

The Bible says, “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver,” Proverbs 16:16 NIV version. Basically, this means whatever the problem, the solution won’t be found until we understand what is really, honestly going on – in our own lives and in the world around us.

I wrote an article on Labor Day for which I researched staggering unemployment rates across the state and specific to our local area. Joblessness does affect the economy. But would it be fair to blame work-related issues on an employer, unemployment, colleagues or job description?

I’ve been jobless. Now I’m not. From my example alone, joblessness is not a root issue. If anything, it’s a symptom of the root issue. The true issue – in any situation – is usually not found in the circumstance itself but rather in what we are willing to do to change our circumstance. My joblessness was my problem.

Loafing on the couch, trolling Facebook and wishing on stars didn’t bring me a job. If we aren’t in a position which brings us happiness (in this case joblessness brought me unhappiness) it is up to us to create a better way.

To create a better way one must first identify which direction they are currently headed and compare it to the direction they’d like to go.

If you would like to find your dream job, you must at the very least be able to identify key factors to obtaining said dream job. Sure, some say, ‘If you can dream it, you can do it.’ I would agree wholeheartedly. But there must be substance behind the dream. You have to also believe in the success of your dream.

Until someone can readily answer basic questions like, “What are my top 10 talents” and “Where might I feel happiest working – taking into consideration such factors as commute time, living expenses, holiday time off, etc.,” it would be ludicrous to expect to obtain a dream job. Or really any decent job. “Would I hire myself?” is another question we should ask.

It makes sense that in order to identify problems, we must ask ourselves pertinent questions, but we can’t ask questions until we become willing to know the answers.

Contrary to what reality television expects us to believe, ignorance is not bliss. Are we so foolish to believe the government doesn’t have stake in what we watch on television or read on the internet? As long as we as a collective society invite the foul-mouthed Snookies and self-absorbed Kim Kardashians of the world to parade their mini-skirts and mega-meltdowns on our television sets, as long as we read tabloids which expose nothing more significant than which ‘celebutant’ divorced which ‘athlete’ this month, the government will continue to laugh at our apathetic ignorance – all while Washington passes bills of which Americans will never know, not because the information is unavailable but because so many of us would rather watch and read about issues which are irrelevant to our wellbeing and society.

Especially in light of the social media era in which we live, it’s easy to say something. If we act like we know what we’re talking about, people might even listen to us. Ironically, some would undoubtedly keep listening even if that was not the case. But we’re much more likely to be respected for what we do than what we say.

It might be tempting to want to identify a problem generally. But the world is not the altogether problem. Our issues cannot be blamed on the entire country; neither can we expect the people who govern politically or the people who practice religion to shoulder all the blame. We can’t even pass all the blame to the people who lie, cheat, steal and kill.

The problem with our world – if we’re addressing the world as one whole entity – is an apathetic people who refuse to act on principle.

The very definition of insanity is doing the same thing with repetition but expecting a different result. Until we become willing to search for and apply newfound wisdom to our present situation, we can’t expect better. Yet in many cases we do.

Blaming others because we don’t wish to eat the fruits of our own poor choices is unacceptable. Our “jobless, homeless, lawless, fearful, hopeless” community can be salvaged if one person will get up today and do what they did not yesterday.

To read this story in print, pick up a copy of the September 9 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.