Hometown Life 3:08 p.m. ET March 30, 2017<\/p>\n
Leonard McCulloch(Photo: File Photo) <\/p>\n
Current times seem marked by an increase in demoralizing distrustand toxic news at all levels in our community. <\/p>\n
Editors of newspapers are telling me that 10 years ago, they did not receive the negativistic complaining, Letters to the Editor, as are common-place now. It seems as if people do not know what to do with their feelings when confronted with news that disagrees with their personal viewpoint. Call-in talk-show radio programs regarding mental health are becoming a source of people asking advice as to whether or not they should cancel their traditional holiday dinners because there is so much family disagreement about politics and the general state of affairs in the world. <\/p>\n
There are accounts of people Unfriending Facebook friends of 30 years over a disagreement on the issues of immigration or building a wall, etc. Downright meanness is being expressed more and more on Twitter communications. There appears to be more large-scale protests in the streets throughout the country such that it is hard to find a broadcast of people celebrating joy. Yet we must, at the same time, respect peoples right to protest and our own right to express feelings respectfully. It used to be common for co-workers, friends and family to discuss issues and agree to disagree, and then to go to lunch together. <\/p>\n
Recently, the worst power outage ever in Michigans history left hundreds of thousands without power. It was refreshing to see people of different persuasions joining-up to give help to one another. It seemed that the me-not me mentality had taken a time-out or agreed to a truce. Cant there be less devastating events that can reunite people in the reduction of demoralization and marginalization? Have we forgotten, the children are listening? Are we teaching our youngsters that competition and winning are best carried out by beating up your opponent verbally, publicly and repeatedly? <\/p>\n
In response to asking people for suggestions as to how to change the tide of attitude and humanity, some have offered that we revive the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Others advocated that we protest against bullying. Some suggest that we find something to have a deep belly laugh about every day. Some say to listen to or watch something light or calming before going to sleep. Some have suggested that we set up and broadcast National Awareness Week of Kindness. <\/p>\n
Recently, I was able to speak with Peter Yarrow of the Peter, Paul and Mary singing group. He has promoted their song, Dont Laugh at Me throughout the world. Google the words to this song. It could be a good way of beginning an awareness of how accepting our differences can reduce so much pain and meanness of people towardpeople. <\/p>\n
Along similar lines, there is a Chinese proverb shared with me, long ago, by a person of peace: If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the house. If there is harmony in the house, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world. <\/p>\n
With all that is going on around us including fake news, which leads some to not know what to believe about their world, it seems that the time is far overdue for resurrecting and promoting the true understanding and practice of empathy. One wiser than I defined empathy to me as, Empathy equals vicarious introspection. Contemplating, understanding and purposefully practicing this word empathy among ourselves might be a good place to begin. Similarly, as Martin Luther King Jr. said, Dark cannot drive out dark, only light can. Lifes most persisting and urgent question is what are you doing for others. <\/p>\n
Len McCulloch is a Diplomate of the American Psychotherapy Association and is credentialed in Traumatic Stress, Mental Health, Brain Injury, Social Workand Addictions. He is a psychotherapist of 40 years and author of Our Mental Health, a monthly column syndicated in Observer & Eccentric Newspapers. His 250-pluspublications to date have been archived over the past 15 years at the Farmington Library.McCulloch can be reached for a courtesy phone consultation at 248-474-2763 x-222. <\/p>\n
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