I just want "to help people"

23-5-19-1548

Starting last year, I began noticing my Instagram and Facebook feed have a striking pattern. Tons of people kept sharing about how much they wanted to "help people." I too, was guilty of the same extravagant claims. Our communities, our children, our country, and our society are all going through critical times- so helping seemed like a natural desire.

As more time passed, I keep seeing the same postings over and over. Different words, but same overall message. Many people claimed of wanting dedicate their time to helping others. Many people wanting to help animals, or help the environment. That's wonderful, right? In theory, Yes. In reality, NO.

I was one of these people who sat around telling the whole world (although no one was asking me) about how much I wanted to help my fellow human beings. I would tell everyone about how I wanted to have an impact in the world and help others. I wanted to help them mentally. I wanted to help them spiritually. I wanted to help people transform their lives. (I am literally laughing out loud at my lofty ambitions. lol.)

These intentions I had of changing people and changing the world were all good intentions. But they were only that: INTENTIONS. Nothing more, nothing less. Sure, I would post inspirational quotes. I would routinely take the time to "share my light" and share uplifting SnapChats and photos with my social media communities. But what was I really, truly doing to help anyone besides myself?

The truth is we all like to share "positive vibes" and motivation and inspiration. But I started to see that we do it more for ourselves, than for anyone else. We do it because it makes us feel good. It helps our mentality, and it helps our overall mindset. It helps the way others perceive us, and the way we perceive ourselves. It might help a person who is having a tough morning, or a friend who is going through a tough time. This is all great, but for someone who is looking to "transform the world," it seems to fall short.

The closer I looked at my news feed, and the closer I looked at my own posts, the more my eyes began to truly open. I noticed the photos of people preaching about how we must enjoy life, while they pranced around the beach or in the forest. I noticed people preaching about finding happiness, and posting their meals at trendy restaurants. I noticed photos of Disneyland and Dodgers games. I noticed pictures of new outfits, and photos of fun vacations. I noticed photos and videos full of self, and lacking of others. Who, again, are we really "helping"???

So how then, can we truly help? How then, can we have an impact? I believe the truth is we are missing two important things: Action and Commitment.

Action in our own towns, action at our local facilities, action in person, and action in real time. I asked myself: how many times in the last 12 months did I show up to volunteer in person? It was only a handful of times. This was a troubling realization. I will tell you why.

There are 168 hours in a week. Subtract 56 for sleep, and subtract 40 for work, subtract 12 for commuting and meal times, subtract 7 for bathing. This leaves us with 53 hours! Every. single. week. Sure, many people have children. Many people go to the gym. Many people have other commitments. The truth of the matter is we find time for the things that are important to us. It seemed to me, that showing up to "help people" a few hours a week, was just not important enough.

The second part is Commitment. I asked myself, when was the last time I committed to show up at the animal shelter at least 1 hour per week? When was the last time I committed to show up for a beach clean up at least 1 hour per week? I committed to showing up for Crossfit. I committed to showing up for lunch dates. I committed to showing up for fun events. I even committed to showing up to offer help to close friends and family if they needed me. But I NEVER committed to showing up "to help people."

Until I did. Last year, I committed to showing up at a local shelter at least 3 hours per week. I served meals to people who didnt have a home. I passed out blankets to people who didnt have a bed. I showed my face to people who didnt think the world cared about them. At a local little shelter, in a local little town. I showed up for a few months, and then my fun life took over me again, and I stopped showing up. I stopped helping people.

I am writing this today because I am going to take action and I am going to make my commitment again. I write this today because I have remarkable friends, who will also decide to take action and make a commitment in their lives. I write this today because I know incredible parents, who will take action and show their children the importance of making a commitment and showing up 1 hour a week to truly "help people" in our towns and around our real lives. Not in

our social media lives.

If you have read this far, I thank you. If you have read this far, remember: we cannot do Great things, until we can do small things in a Great way. Words are who you want to be, but actions are who you really are. Share if you agree, and share with me why you might disagree. With love, Cristal.