Where’s the Caring?

This time of COVID may go down in history as the “The Great Reveal”. The pressure cooker of 8 billion people focusing on their mortality has caused many of our life values to bubble to the surface for examination.

One of those is “caring”. My observation is that humans in survival mode often tend towards an “every man for himself” way of looking at things. I’ve felt appalled to hear some people state that it was okay with them that people were losing their businesses, as long as they themselves were safe.

This is not meant as a commentary about whether certain restrictions were right or wrong. Rather, I found the callousness with which it was stated disturbing.

Where is the caring? The success of the human race will (I believe) depend upon the degree we can feel compassion for and help our fellow human beings.

Maybe we need to organize a worldwide reading day, all of it comprised of some good children’s books, so we can review some core life values. Note that the first three “caring” quotes below are from two famous children’s authors:

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
~ Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

“Some people care too much. I think it’s called love.”
~ A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

“So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact. And remember that life’s A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed) Kid, you’ll move mountains.”
~ Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

“We are afraid to care too much, for fear that the other person does not care at all.”
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

“If you care about something you have to protect it – If you’re lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it.”
~ John Irving

“Many people need desperately to receive this message: ‘I feel and think much as you do, care about many of the things you care about, although most people do not care about them. You are not alone.”
~ Kurt Vonnegut