Well I got a second chance yesterday. I posted the other day about a missed impact opportunity. I missed it because I failed to do myself what I encourage in this blog. I put my interest over my impact. But I was sitting in that same Subway and the same poor kids were outside once again. I guess that’s the regular routine for them to find something to eat. This time I was mindful of the things I speak of here. I was mindful of impact over interest. And those kids enjoyed a full stomach…at least on that day.

And then early this morning I witnessed something right in front of me here on my quiet street that caused me distress. There is an elderly gentleman who always walks by my house every morning. He sells lottery tickets in the center of town (what we call here in Costa Rica, “chances”). He was trying to dial a number on his phone, but apparently was having problems doing it, either due to poor eyesight or dexterity in manipulating those tiny “smart” phone buttons (I know because I have trouble with both even at my youthful 52…why can’t someone invent a smarter smart phone to deal with these issues?). An adolescent passed him on the sidewalk and the gentleman asked the youth for some help. This little snot just brushed him aside and continued his brisk pace. The scene made me angry. But that is the infirmity that inflicts our youth, as well as society in general. And it is true here in Costa Rica just as much as in the U.S. And that infirmity is indifference.

What is the source of indifference? A mindset of interest (self) over impact, pure and simple. Take this current mess in Washington D.C. I don’t want to get political in this blog. I have in the past. The problem is that politics always tends to polarize and that is the opposite of the Big US that impact mindfulness teaches. But I’ll use this current event as an example. What is really going on here? There is a small group of Congressman whose constituents do not like the Affordable Care Act (what they call, “Obamacare”). I am not even sure if it is “Obamacare” that is the real problem…more than likely it is the man himself they don’t “care” for (for reasons I won’t go into in this post). So, they have decided to shut down the entire government of the U.S. unless they get what their constituents want…some sort of repeal of this law…that previously passed both houses of Congress as well as constitutional muster via review by the Supreme Court. It is also a law that provides health insurance to millions who could not otherwise afford it. But that doesn’t matter. They don’t like it and to hell with the rest.

What is the source of indifference? A mindset of interest (self) over impact, pure and simple.

You see, for me that is the same attitude that this youth had when he rudely brushed aside the small and simple request of the elderly gentleman. There was such a lack of respect on display that it really ignited a passion within me to run out and give “a good talking” to the little shit. And we humans crave respect. It is quintessential to a dignified existence. And everyone wants that. We cannot all be millionaires. But we can all expect respect.

We humans crave respect. It is quintessential to a dignified existence. And everyone wants that. We cannot all be millionaires. But we can all expect respect.

Being indifferent to another human, who just wants some dignity, some respect, is the ultimate slap in the face of humanity. Why do we do that to one another? How could we? Easy…because we are only concerned with what interests us. If Obamacare has the minuscule chance of costing me an extra buck in order to provide someone the dignity of healthcare (who could not otherwise afford it), to hell with them. I want it repealed and I demand that my Congressman take action to see that it is, the consequences to the nation be damned.

Interest over impact my friends. That is the problem we face in our youth, on our streets, in our cities, in our nation and throughout our planet.

Impact mindfulness might just be the cure we should be looking for.

Impact mindfulness encourages us to be different not indifferent.

photo credit: Massimo Margagnoni via Compfight cc