There is nothing more irritating than when people mistake my human compassion for naivety. I understand that things suffer and struggle and die, I know that. I know that there is no cosmic reward for how many times I put worms back in the mud after a rainy day, or feed a stray animal even though I know I'm not supposed to. And I'm not saying that there is something wrong with people who don't do these things or simply ignore them, because there is not! But I can not look at something or someone who is struggling and ignore it if I have the power to help.
There is so much pain and hatred in this world that is out of my control, that I take comfort in doing something, no matter how minimal the task may be. I don't need someone to tell me that what I'm doing is useless or has no real significant impact, because I know that. I know and understand that that stray has the possibility of getting run over or starve to death. But today, I had the power to help so I did. I hope that someone gave it a new home and it's healthy and fine. I am young and idealistic not a child.
Everyone has a little bit of, "I want to save the world", within them. Mine takes over my thoughts and body, and I put everything into trying to make a difference. I am not naive for this. I am not gullible. I am a hopeful person who tries to see the good in everyone and everything, who is trying to, in some way, make the world a better place. As cliché as it sounds, it's the truth.
And it's not like I am this angel with no bad thoughts whatsoever. Being a good person is a choice, every time you perform an act of kindness, you are choosing to make the world a little brighter. I choose to be kind because it makes me happy. So don't tell me that bad things could happen, because I know. I choose to hope for good things and make kind choices.
The Lorax said it perfectly, "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." And he was right! My hope for people is that they no longer point out the negative, but embrace the positive. Diminish the cynicism and create love and joy. I implore you all to, instead of thinking about the stray, "it's going to die", to think "hey I can do something to help." Live and love in the moment.
