Living in DC, there is only one radio station: NPR. (Unless you like gospel, country & western, soul, r&b, religious talk or latin–and I don’t!) OK, so maybe there’s just no Top 40 or college radio where I am. OK–whatever!
So–given that there is only one radio station–NPR, that’s all I listen to now. And that’s where I get all of my information these days. So–the other day I was listening, and this woman was talking about how, as long as we are alive, we each have a responsibility to get involved in our community, invest in new relationships, find things that delight & engage us, and put ourselves out there in terms of our gifts.
WAIT——What? What did she say?
I like to think of myself as an uber-responsible person. After all, at 40, I have my own private disability and long-term care insurance policies, for example. All of my ‘affairs’ are in order, and until recently, my financial future was well established.
So–wait, what? There’s an area of life that I never thought about in terms of my responsibility.
Maybe this is obvious to all of you—civic and social responsibility.
I’m someone who has a long list of volunteer roles, but I never thought about it in terms of a responsibility while we’re each alive. From time to time, I have totally ‘turtled up’ to make important changes and process the events of my life. I never thought much of it. Hearing someone say it plainly caught me off-guard.
I’m thinking about it now because of my mother. For the entire time she’s lived with us in our new city, she has made ZERO attempts at involving herself in any kind of social life outside of our family. She is a very social person.
It’s not like I haven’t tried to encourage her. I’ve suggested volunteer companions, afternoons at the senior center. Hiring a nanny who’s close in age to chat with her while watching my 7-month-old. I’ve brought neighbors by and arranged for long-lost family members and friends to visit our home.
She wants NOTHING to do with any of these ideas. This is simply not like her. (See my earlier post about learned helplessness.)
Prior to hearing this radio show, I didn’t think much of it. I’m coming off of my own turtle phase myself, and I didn’t think it was my job to push her more than I already have. I’ll be brainstorming non-controversial ways to help her…more on that soon.
But, consequently, I myself have made the commitment and decided, that if we HAVE to live here (see earlier posts about how much I loathe it!), then, I can at least try to find the charm and at least have pals while I’m here. For my sake and the baby’s!
So, I joined a couple of mom’s groups and I’ve been a social butterfly ever since!
I am fulfillling ALL of my responsibilities now–happily so 
Woohoo!! Good for you! When we change our perspective (and thoughts), we change our lives.