A Personal Rant & Not For Sale
When I was a kid I thought I would make a difference. I wanted to give a voice to people who don’t have one. I wanted to end child abuse, hunger, domestic violence, rape and illiteracy. I wanted equal rights and freedom to prevail across the globe and I expected to participate.
I’m skilled as a writer, not brilliant, but I know that I can make people feel. For multiple years I’ve used my talent to help companies sell products and services. I’ve coped out and chosen comfortable domestication in suburbia. I am a disappointment to to every idealistic fantasy my younger self indulged.
How does that happen? I’m not alone. There are many, many people out there who expected something more, or at least different, of themselves. I’ve not taken a straight path to anything. My life includes a complex set of relationships, successes, disappointments and joys … just as yours does. What makes me, me, you, you and Oprah, Oprah?
All those lofty expectations-I’ve done exactly nothing to end child abuse, hunger, domestic violence, rape and illiteracy. You know that saying, “If you help just one person, it’s worth it.” I can’t even hold up a finger to count one.
I read something today and I’m mad. I’m mad at myself. I complain about a messy house, not having enough ME moments, and I’m spending too much time reading and writing about preschool angst, serendipitous motherhood or the annals of potty training.
Yes, dear reader, I’m on a rant. It’s self indulgent, I know. If you prefer not to engage my zealot, soapbox- eating self, please tune back in another day.
Ironically I was stumped today for something to post to Shout. I wanted a lighthearted moment to inspire my pen and help ease the discomfort I know many of you have felt after reading this week’s feature article, My Journey into Violence. Even with a switch to decaf after the dinner hour, it’s just not happening.
Rather than read more of my pitiful woe, you could get mad with me and head over to Not For Sale, the website of an organization dedicated to stopping human trafficking.
Not convinced you want to click? How’s this for a push:
“After illegal drug sales and arms trafficking, human trafficking is today the third most profitable criminal activity in the world, generating $31 billion annually. As many as half of all those trafficked worldwide for sex and domestic slavery are children under 18 years of age.”
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Comment by Amy on 24 June 2008:
I believe that you have helped at least one in many ways! You are a hero in my eyes!
Amys last blog post..When Life Takes You By Surprise
Comment by Jan on 25 June 2008:
Tricia, you do yourself an injustice if you believe you have not made a difference in at least one person’s life.
You are a mother. You are raising a son who will be a fine, upstanding and productive member of society. YOU are a fine, upstanding and productive member of society.
Don’t underestimate the importance of that. If you can’t cure the ills of the world, you can make damn sure you don’t contribute to them. And if everyone made that their goal, well - we’ll have cured the ills of the world, won’t we?
Jans last blog post..Eating Habits of the Early 21st Century Middle Aged Blogger
Comment by Tricia on 25 June 2008:
Thank you both for the hugs, and Jan, you are soooo right about the importance of being focused on parenting and raising our children to be upstanding. There was an article yesterday on MSNBC: “Little bullies begin tormenting others early on. 75 percent of those ages 8 to 11 say they’ve been targets, expert say.”
So much of what ails us begins in the home, by the examples we set and the values we help to teach our children. Thank you for reminding me that the important job of parenting with purpose is really key.
Comment by Jen on 25 June 2008:
1. HUGS, I think you’re brilliant.
2. I feel the exact same way you do. I so badly want to get involved in domestic abuse, but am at a loss where to start. I don’t want to simply donate money, I want to DO something. I feel completely inadequate some days. I know what I’m doing (raising kids) is great, but I long for something more.
Jens last blog post..RAK Tuesday
Comment by donna on 29 June 2008:
Tricia you have helped more people than you know. I listen to a father almost every day on how you made the difference in his childs life. So stop selling your self short. This blog helps more people than you know as well. You are developing quite a following.
Your readers can relate to you and some of the things that you say and have been through, that helps them just by knowing that they are not alone in some of the things that are happening to them.
You do make a difference.
Comment by donna on 29 June 2008:
And don’t forget what you did for your little siste. Moving her in with you 1200 miles away from VT to help her get out of a relationship that she didn’t know how to get out of.
That was one of the better things that you have done. So you may not be able to stop world hunger or give every one a home or stop domestic violence, But you do make a difference in a lot of smaller things that are just as important.