The Bottom Line, Always,

is that you can’t make other people do things they don’t want to or lack the will to do.

Re. the recent declining/low vaccine rates–a case in point. I choose to get vaccinated because, to me, it makes common sense, it is based on scientific research and expertise, and it has proven positive results.

Others who lack common sense, are superstitious, believe in conspiracy theories, do not operate on facts, science, empirical evidence, and widely-advertised success rates will probably not bother to get shots. Not only do they not care about others, they also do not rationally care about themselves.

This pattern repeats in myriad other ways in societal behaviors in which ‘we do it do ourselves’ and ‘we are our own worst enemies’.

Even family members can get in trouble with drugs, lack the mental resources to deal with stress and bullying, and become depressed and commit suicide. To a certain extent, others can intervene on their behalf and try to help, but the bottom line is that people have to have or develop coping/survival skills, self-esteem, and believe in positives, rather than ‘do a number on themselves’.

Ultimately, individuals must minister unto themselves and take personal responsibility rather than making poor or bad choices.

Our culture is largely a ‘blaming everyone except oneself’ culture. Many people see themselves as victims in many contexts and situations. They are inclined to just blame others and project whatever responsibility elsewhere on others. It’s a simplistic, blind world for too many and an easy, cowardly way of escaping personal and moral responsibility.

Though the main obligation of the individual is, first and foremost to oneself, one can also try to do for others in a socially positive way as in helping (if the help is desired), volunteering and charity. In this way, moral values enter into the picture, especially now that we’ve just about reached December, which is the best societal behavior month on the calendar. People are generally on their best behaviors in December and before Christmas.

Giving to and helping others is its own higher reward and reveals the best in human behaviors. One does not and should not necessarily expect anything in return if one has true charity spirit. A far cry from mere personal survival.

Finally, it is these latter kind of values that make a significant difference and raise human spirits well beyond just one person. So though it is well and fine to be realistic about one’s actual impact on others, it is also very important to have other-centered values, nonetheless, to activate dormant, altruistic compassion. We do not live in a vacuum; we live out our lives in many social contexts. So, what about all these others, eh? The world and life are always much, much bigger than our essentially small, ephemeral selves.