We keep hoping a “one world” feeling leading to universal peace will eventually prevail, but that effort isn’t working. Even worse, while being concerned with what’s going on elsewhere in the world in terms of trying to avoid war, or at least keep the conversations going, we continue to shirk our duty at home—over commit our resources, waver in our original mission.
That shouldn’t, however, surprise anyone scanning the international scene. As someone once said: Hope is a poor business model. To that bucket of cold reality, the people of the world must add sharply divided political factions, religious zealots, and out of control egoists whose lust for greed and power has led them to mistakingly believe it was their destiny to control the world. The trouble is, if everyone is carrying a big stick, then nobody is.
Well, consider this: If turning outward isn’t the answer, then turning inward just might be. You know, remodeling and redecorating what we already have to make it a far better home place for all of us, make it work so well that everyone else in the world begins to watch, then like what they see, and begin to change. We already know what it means to be a leader. We need to demonstrate that again, but differently and with staying power.
We need to become a nation of keepers.
Mention of that word, though, automatically reminds us of people who are either paid for whatever it is they are keeping or caring for, or are performing as part of organized volunteer work. Neither apply here—and that’s the critically important point. You become a different kind of keeper that borrows from themselves and extends it to others in the simplest of ways.
What comes into play aren’t the usual resources of time and money, but rather thrusts brought about by attitude and state of mind. Figuratively speaking, both have the power to make a rock from a speck, a bright beam from a spark.
If you don’t believe that, think of the few around you including those in the workplace who always smile and say hello, go out their way to open a door for you, are most open to your opinions, most available if you need encouragement, seemingly to physically and mentally be in control of themselves.
You’ve likely not thought of them as keepers, but that’s exactly what they are. There’s nothing formal or organized about any of it. Even if it carries such labels as kind, generous, and helpful, those are only labels and they don’t count. What does count is what’s underneath, the reason for the label.
Now, ask yourself this question: What would it be like if everyone was a keeper of some kind? Be careful how you answer because it will place you at center stage of what now sounds impossible, part of a new fabric for America, stitched together by all of nearly 400 million people with the same kind of mindset.
The possibilities are endless—all the way from holding and opening doors, smiling, and saying hello to planting flowers and sharing the blossoms, keeping the street in front of your house clean, reading a story to a sick or elderly person, keeping in touch with yesterdays friends, sending congratulatory cards for achievement or expressions of sorrow to those who have lost a loved one. Just as each one is a touch of attachment, so would billions of them vastly help to keep us together as family, community, state, and nation.
Pay no attention to any reasons why any of these examples won’t or can’t work. Make them a part of you and they will work. This kind of bright and shiny extends far beyond the glitz of cars, homes, jewelry, and bank accounts. It becomes an exciting and satisfying feeling that can’t be bought at any price, something just as valuable as keeping yourself well and having a roof over your head and food on the table.
Again, ask yourself what you think would happen if we each committed ourselves to be the keeper of something. And what if it not only excited us and helped us here and now but also set an example for every kid destined for adulthood who would also become a keeper.
Everybody everywhere is fully capable of being a keeper. That stems from all of us having the innate desire to feel needed, to be a somebody. Being a keeper satisfies both wants. No matter who, what, or where you are, you are always being invited to be a keeper. Your immediate reward for being one is that of proving to yourself the value of your self worth.
The real punchline, however, is simply this: What you will be doing as a keeper will not only calm the storm of your existence during this lifetime, but will also set an example extending all the way from those closest to you to every nation on earth.
Being a keeper is not only your choice, but also the most logical choice for all humankind.
