Changing Points of View

Out of sight, out of mind. We've probably all heard this at some point in our lives. Whether it be about homework, housework, bills, or your ex's contact information, one of the best tips for reducing stress is simply removing it from your view, whether that be moving documents to a drawer or putting your phone on airplane mode.

But what if we did the opposite? What if we actually want to focus on something? My roommate stated the solution perfectly the other day: in sight, in mind. This can be extrapolated to many different areas of life. Healthy food in the pantry. Workout clothes by your bed. Reminders on your phone. But I think it applies on a larger scale too. Especially now. With all of the recent media coverage regarding George Floyd, police brutality, and systemic racism, it's hard not to be thinking about the injustices that have been and continue to be committed in this country. On the news, in every headline, on social media, the issue has rightly cemented its place as the most important problem our country needs to deal with. Our attention, time, and money have all gone towards supporting causes, whether you're in Minneapolis like myself where the support is more focused on community/local-based action, or somewhere around the country/world where you're focusing on helping larger organizations and spreading knowledge.

There's only one thing that worries me.

What happens when this isn't in our sight anymore?

We're already seeing news shift back to somewhat-normal (or whatever somewhat-normal is during a global pandemic). Protests have died down across the country, people are starting to post regular content on social media again, and donations aren't being organized as frequently.

These are all things that were bound to happen; we as humans would have a hard time constantly being bombarded with nothing but tragedies and calls for justice. I don't want to say I fear that this issue will be forgotten, because I'm optimistic that change is actually happening this time, that this time will be different. Bigger. Deeper. Longer. But I don't think this issue can go back to its place in the backseat of our minds. It needs to be promoted; the cause, the campaigns, and the ways to take action locally. Now, six months from now, and a year from now. We can't allow ourselves to fall back into the pattern we've repeated for years.

I sincerely hope that this issue remains highlighted for as long as it will take to keep seeing systemic change happen. Our friends and neighbors of color deserve to be able to live lives without fear. Our communities will grow stronger. Our society will grow stronger. The little changes are already starting to spur the big changes. But the work needs to be sustained. This problem is too important to ever be put in the back seat again.

"A Single Seed" is my attempt to get out one idea every day that I've learned or accumulated over the years, with the hope that it may stick in someone else's memory bank as well. The idea may be related to fitness, business, life, or philosophy, but I think you'll find that many can change domains if you wish them to. With each seed planted, a new life awaits.

Image credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/george-floyd-riot-dallas-protests-5244309/