I do not watch the news. I have not for many many years now. I do not read the news either unless Marc draws something particular to my attention. When I listen to the radio I usually turn it off for the duration of a news broadcast unless it is cultural news. Scandalous? Allow me to put it to you this way.
The news is there to keep us informed, but since sensation sells, we are overwrought with bad news in the media. I lost interest. Most people when they learn of my non-news habits say, “Don’t you want to know what is going on in the world? Don’t you want to be informed?” Well ironically I am quite aware and I am no less informed then most other members of my community. I just research my information more deeply and I don’t rely on one source of information. I also want to know what happened after. I have a question for all those outraged news addicts out there, “What does it change in your life? How do you change what you do, based on the information you receive, to make the world a better place?” Most people just go on living their lives. So being informed has no intrinsic value.
Perhaps Mr. Mandela is asking us to change that pattern. I believe that if you want to make a change in the world you have to be willing to make a change in your own back yard. You want the world to be a better place, be nice to your neighbor, be a good parent, be a boss who cares about the human beings in his employment. There are homeless and hungry people everywhere. Yes absolutely everywhere there is someone who is hungry right now. You could do something towards eliminating that in your community. Something richer and deeper than just unconsciously writing a cheque and sending it off to some far away place.
It is strong communities that can reach out to help others. It is action that creates change. I am called upon to donate my time and services often. Maybe it is part of an artist’s karma. Pick a cause you believe in. Do even a little thing once a year to help a person, a family or an organization in your community. It will change you and that is the greatest gift of giving.
Namaste!
Bianca
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise.
At an event for Leucan with one of the participants who shaved her head to raise money for cancer victims. I was M.C. and was so moved by what each contributor shared with the audience. Sometimes it was hard not to cry. That's what happens with an authentic human connection.