As a member of the advisory board, I get comments every once in a while that sound something like this: “Is all your time and effort really worth it?” and “What is the point of initiating a program like this when you know you are NOT going to prevent every crime or hardship from happening?” For me, these are easy questions to answer. First, I answer “is it worth it?” with a simple but strong “YES! It is most definitely worth it.” In his book, The Art of Happiness, the Dalai Llama writes about the connection he feels to all human beings as a source of happiness. He adds, ” If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” In other words, I find teaching the STEP UP! program has become a personal source of happiness while encouraging others to seek happiness through acts of compassion.
In regard to the second question, “what is the point when hardship will always exist?”, I think about the 1987 movie “Amazing Grace and Chuck.” In the movie, a basketball player and a young pitcher decide to protest the threat of nuclear war by no longer playing in their respective sports. At one point in the movie, the main character is asked the same question that I get asked. Namely, “What is the point? You will never change the world.” The main character politely answers, “Perhaps, but wouldn’t it be nice?” I can’t think of a better phrase to endorse. Sure, we may not prevent every hardship but wouldn’t it be nice? Sure, we may not reach everyone who hears a STEP UP! presentation but wouldn’t it be nice?
My other response to this question is this: “I agree that unfortunately hardships exist but if you do one nice thing for someone today perhaps that means one less hardship.” Having a world where we look out for each other is a very noble quest. And, if achieved, wouldn’t that be nice?
Dr. Scott Goldman