"The Danger of Apathy" by my awesome friend Melissa Wedel

Apathy:
1. Lack of interest or concern, especially regarding matters of general importance or appeal; indifference.
2. Lack of emotion or feeling; impassiveness.

"Science may have found a cure for most evils: but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all--the apathy of human beings." Helen Keller

What is the cause of apathy? It is often frustration and a sense of powerlessness that causes people to withdraw from life.

"The world is a dangerous place to live;" said Albert Einstein, "not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it."


From the movie Seven:
William Somerset: I just don't think I can continue to live in a place that embraces and nurtures apathy as if it was virtue.

David Mills: You're no different. You're no better.
William Somerset: I didn't say I was different or better. I'm not. Hell, I sympathize; I sympathize completely. Apathy is the solution. I mean, it's easier to lose yourself in drugs than it is to cope with life. It's easier to steal what you want than it is to earn it. It's easier to beat a child than it is to raise it. Hell, love costs: it takes effort and work.


This topic has been on my mind in one way or another all year.

We are all guilty of apathy at one time or another in our own lives. We are all human and sometimes we each feel as though we can't do something any more or simply don't care anymore for whatever reason.

While most of us don't use drugs, beat children nor sponge of the system or steal, there are other areas where we are apathetic and should evaluate those situations in our own lives and make changes for our own futures and the futures of those we love.

People who succeed in life are not apathetic on serious life changing topics.

When you face a problem in your own personal life, be honest with yourself about the cause, don't lie or make excuses. That will never make the problem go away, it will only make it bigger.

As parents we are apathetic to the garbage the feed our children in the public school. Have you gone to your child's school to see what they are feeding your children?? I highly recommend you watch Food Inc and start reading about processed foods.

We're apathetic to the idea that our kids are full of useless knowledge that they can recite word for word about movies, gossip column talk and so on while many cannot even label a US map correctly. Have you limited their TV, video game and social time to unsure they are learning the things they need to?

I know someone who knows more about new cars coming out on the market next year than I could remember but he cannot spend any time learning new skills or reading to improve his poor job situation and provide for his family. He has decided that for whatever reason his job situation will never change and he has given up, he doesn't care anymore.

I know cat breeders who know other breeders who are abusing and mistreating the cats in their care and they say and do nothing about it. One in particular has been involved with animal control and is running from a rescue and animal control while still adding cats to her hoarding situation, and guess what, other breeders want the sale so badly and the money in their pockets that they are apathetic to the plight of the helpless cats that land in her care! Our major cat registries are more worried about politics than the abuse and neglect of the cats whom they register. They have developed a tolerance for the abuse, neglect and exploitation of breeding and show cats.

I know people who tell me they can't buy things their children need nor things that will change their health and life but yet they can buy cigarettes and alcohol.

Many hospitals are full of mobidly obese people who cannot even get out of bed and are dependant on a ventilator to breath. These people began the problem themselves but I can tell you that a 500 lb. bedridden person isn't walking to the kitchen nor going to the store to continue to eat and support their problem, apathetic family member and friends are! If you love someone you'll get them help, do not give them what is killling them!

How many of us know people on social security disability who are not disabled? How many of us know people on food stamps and welfare that have cable TV, internet and video games?


This list could go on and on but my point is simple:
As 2010 draws to a close, take some time to look at your life, really evaluate 2010. Ask yourself if you're where you want to be and will you have the determination, character and strength to change your direction in 2011?

We are all responsible for what we do in response to what life deals you. We all suffer and we've all heard many a great speaker say not to wish for less problems, rather wish you were better! Really ponder that statement.

Think for a moment about people you know who seem to have it all and who are happy and then ask yourself if it's because of their mindset, character and determination or because they don't have any problems in life. If you think that it's because they don't have problems in life, you're wrong. They may not have your problems but believe that they do indeed have problems. They lose people they love also, they have set backs and disappointments. They get knocked down but instead of giving up they get back up and try again and move forward!

Apathy will always be part of our society and people we know but as individuals we cannot afford this dangerous practice in our own lives. Stopping apathy in your own life and situation is the beginning of stopping it on a larger scale!

We are each responsible to help ourselves and not give up, make excuses or worst of all just not caring anymore.

Lastly, a public service announcement: The Apathy Anonymous meeting was canceled due to lack of interest.