Some mornings, I like to start my day off by delving into one of the many books of inspirational quotes that I intentionally store right above my bed. This morning, one quote in particular really hooked my attention, not because it is profound, but because it really speaks to this year and what I feel the universe is trying to teach humanity as a collective at this time.
“We do not realize often enough that we are dependent on one another, at the simplest material level, we are all interdependent for our daily needs, and in this way we owe a debt to all beings.”
– Kalu Rinpoche (1905-89)
Over the course of this year we’ve watched the Covid-19 drama unfold in the United States. Initially when rules in some states to quarantine took hold, we witnessed many hoarding toilet paper and other products, which unfortunately left many (especially those most vulnerable) without. There was an utter disregard for anyone else as people rushed to the markets to make sure their own needs were met in the event that we were put on total lock-down for a period of time.
We have also witnessed medical professionals putting themselves at risk with insufficient supplies as consumers went haywire and began purchasing medical supplies like N-95 masks and latex gloves. We sat by and watched the media speak messages of, “Please do not overbuy and if you have any you can donate to your local hospital, please do.” Again, the demon of selfishness reared its ugly head and the general sense I felt in the atmosphere was disregard for one’s fellow man.
Of course, with the use of disposable products like masks, gloves, and sanitizing wipes in public places came another problem rooted in ego or “me” mentality. Instead of putting these products in a proper trash or waste receptacle, some people decided it was acceptable to just dispose of them in carriages and in parking lots leading to a larger pollution problem. It was as if these people believed that it wasn’t their “job” to throw these things away properly. Maybe, it was too inconvenient or maybe they felt it was beneath them to dispose of their own garbage?
Then, as if that wasn’t bad enough, when numbers finally started trending downward we were told that each state was responsible for enforcing its own rules by the federal government. This led to some states mandating that everyone wear masks in public whenever they would be within 6 ft distance of one another to contain the spread. You’d think, that’s a fairly easy enough request, kind of like wearing pants in public so that we aren’t spreading butt germs on every public surface we sit on. However, we had many people rebelling against this with the premise that, “Their rights were being stolen from them,” regardless of how the science showed that this would greatly reduce risk of silent carriers spreading the virus to others. Again, it was total “me” mentality.
It wasn’t all bad and there were some examples of people embodying this quote too. Grocery workers, truck drivers, and all other essential personnel also continued to show up for society by continuing to do their part. So it wasn’t all selfishness, though maybe some of it was, considering those that were told to continue working were in some of the lesser paid industries and most likely couldn’t afford to continue providing for their own needs if they decided to “selfishly” put their own “safety” first. Anyhow, I’d like to believe that they understood the quote referenced earlier and were serving their role in an effort to benefit the whole recognizing the interdependence of people.
Amidst the covid-19 pandemic, we then had protests occurring due to oppression and lack of regard for black lives in this country. Again, the universe seemed to be sending a very important message: We cannot disregard even one life, because then we disrupt the whole. George Floyd was the straw that broke the camel’s back this year as many witnessed several police officers pin him to the ground while one officer kept his knee on his neck long enough to snuff out the light within him as he proclaimed, “I can’t breathe.” This barbaric event sent waves throughout the entire country, which was inspiring because it seemed as though people were waking up to finally understand that how you treat even one life has impact on many. Many people rose up to speak out against these events with groups like “Black Lives Matter” at the forefront of the protests. It was beautiful. Unity is beautiful.
While some major events this year have really highlighted this message for me, it isn’t just this year. If we look, we can see how our actions impact not only our fellow humans, but all life forms from plants to animals. Often, we are abusing the very same resources that are meant to sustain us. When we refuse to use these resources in a responsible manner, we ultimately destroy them, and we ultimately suffer the consequences. Lack of regard for life around us is actually a form of self-hate and I wish more people lived with an understanding of this. When we walk around pulling all of the flowers from the Earth, we fail to be surrounded by beauty. When we cut down all of the trees, we fail to have clean air. When we pollute our rivers, streams, and oceans we fail to have clean water. I’m not sure when people will finally live as though they are one, “loving their neighbor as themselves,” because it truly is an act of self love to love all of the life around you well. You are ensuring that you have the best of everything in addition to ensuring that your lineage does as well.
Hopefully, this speaks to your “selfishness” and inspires you to do your part to live in a more mindful manner. If each of us were to commit to upholding all life around us, we would see a huge difference in the world around us. Be selfish and love all life! 😊