One Common Purpose - Working Together for a Better Future

8/8/2019 One Common Purpose - Working Together for a Better Future

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ONE COMM ON PURPOSE:

Working Together For A Better Future

By

Bruce Strauss and Shawn Strauss





TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter Page

Introduction 4

Everyone Matters 6

Everyday Issues 10

Working Together For A Better Future 15

Achieving Great Progress 19



INTRODUCTION

When you look at the front page of the newspaper, watch the evening

news on television or listen to the latest report on the radio what do you get?

Most of the key stories are about a problem that some individual has or a

community wide dilemma. Yet with all of this real life negativity, the majority of

human beings live their lives believing that tomorrow will be better than today.

Hope and optimism are the cornerstones to being human. Our collective

spirit manifests itself into new opportunities and possibilities on a regular basis.

Just as important to the human condition comes the unique choice we have of theway in which we perceive the future. While our minds can take us in any

direction, we collectively strive for something better than only focusing upon

doom and gloom. When something is amiss, we set our sights onto fixing the

problem instead of burying our heads into the sand. We relish in the possibility

of a future filled with success rather than one of continual despair.

For hope and optimism to eventually lead to a successful outcome we

need to believe in ourselves and in our abilities. One of our strengths is the

capacity to persevere through the most troubling of circumstances. We march

forward not exactly knowing what the outcome will look like, but believing in a

world full of possibility. This is a message you may have heard throughout your

life, however take a moment and let the words really sink in. If you do, you will

not only be open to the idea that anything can be achieved but also closer to that

reality.

Look around and you will see things that you take for granted that at one

time did not exist. Televisions, refrigerators, computers, and automobiles all

spawned out of the notions described above. From heating systems and indoor

plumbing to skyscrapers and multi-tiered stadiums, this vision for a brighter



tomorrow may link most of what we see and use today. Thousands of items

represent what is possible when human desire for something better gets

combined with optimism and a determination to persevere.

A world of possibility does not limit itself solely to things. It reveals its

hand in profound thought as well. Like a set of values that touch our soul or

enduring virtues that reach our heart, possibility gives us inspiration to carry on.

Whether it comes from a great idea or a timeless notion, the possibility for a

better tomorrow transforms us by helping to forge stronger relationships and an

enhanced way of life.

One Common Purpose: Working Together For A Better Future helps to lay a

foundation to build strong communities woven together by our one

commonality, a desire for a better future. Throughout the book one can explore

the numerous issues we face, the importance of our fellow man, and the role we

all can play in creating progress. As you read, carry with you the hope and

optimism that opens new doors in life and you may find that our one common

purpose of working together for a better future can reap great rewards.





Since life’s natural inclination is for people to focus upon one’s self, such

behavior should not be the basis for scorn. While we may easily forget the

interests of others, when another person matters we do things that are gratifying

and helpful to them. We take time out of our busy schedules, whether that’s a

few minutes or a few hours, and come to their aide. Our actions towards our

fellow human beings, when they matter, represent that we are not simply self-

absorbed but that we do consider what another person needs and feels. Keeping

this balance between a normal amount of self-centeredness and remembering

that our actions affect others can help improve the lives for all involved. After all,

being human does mean we have the capacity to feel empathy for others and

demonstrate our compassionate nature.

While these ideals can help you on an individual level, to truly create a

better world requires it to become better for everyone. We cannot say we live in a

better world if it only becomes better for one’s own family, one’s own

community, one’s own nation, one’s own race, one’s own religion or one’s own

ethnicity. Since every human life is important, working together and sharing in a

better tomorrow are two essentials in creating the world that we seek.

Today’s society already works tirelessly to fashion a better future.

Scientific breakthroughs are the result of this yearning. Our constant

technological push forward includes everything from medicines that help entire

villages fight disease to portable electronic devices that make the day just a little

more enjoyable. Businesses often start from a vision of solving a problem or

addressing a need not already met. Even political and philosophical discourses

have their roots in what a better tomorrow may look like. Although it can provedifficult, by wading past the typical political jargon, one might find policies and

practices stemmed from the very notion of a world that benefits all.

Many undertakings not only seek to profit from enhancing lives, but also

work diligently in the non-profit sector to help society. When we look closely at



non-profit endeavors and the people who start them, work for them, volunteer to

help them and donate money to them we see human beings helping their fellow

human beings who need some kind of assistance. Most of the time these people

do not know and will never meet the beneficiaries of that help, yet through their

kindness, diligence and empathy they are committed to the idea that everyone

matters.

By contributing one’s time to people in need we reduce the problems they

face thereby giving them a better life that they so desperately want. Each time we

help find shelter for a homeless person, renovate run down neighborhoods, feed

the hungry or work with our youth in worthwhile activities, we help create a

world with fewer problems. Our actions are directly linked to the world around

us and the more we contribute to others the better the world becomes.

This direct correlation between valuing other people, having fewer

problems, and creating a better world, finds supporting evidence in all areas of

life. As an employee, don’t the owners of a company say that you are important

when they improve work conditions and compensation? As a customer, don’t

you sense a retailer cares when you're treated with courtesy, kindness and

respect? Similarly, a neighbor who keeps the noise down at night recognizes

those living next-door matter by showing consideration. Contributing to the well

being of others can run the gamut of actions small and large. No matter the

endeavor, our actions can create fewer problems and help usher in a better

future.

Believing that everyone matters places a commendable responsibility onto

your shoulders. Giving of yourself is a choice, which often requires puttingpersonal things aside to go where you are needed in the assistance of

others. Such effort need not be seen as a sacrifice of one’s own desires. Personal

aspirations and dedication to others do not have to be mutually exclusive. In fact,

when applied with proper balance can only enhance both objectives. Knowing



that a better life for others means a better world for everyone, including yourself

and your loved ones, can bring even greater satisfaction in spending time

helping those in need.

When we stand up together behind the belief that everyone matters, we

are taking a valuable step in working towards a brighter tomorrow. This notion

will not simply end our problems and it will not make us all get along, but it

does allow for the possibility to focus time, energy, and attention on other

people. When everyone matters, even the success of people in a far off land is

important because we understand how that benefits us at home. Less problems

for others anywhere on this planet translates over time into a more peaceful and

productive world, with ideas being shared and useful products being made.

Eventually, the rewards of helping others comes full circle because when others

have what they need in life, they too can contribute towards our greater purpose

of creating a better future.



EVERYDAY ISSUES

Everyday each of us wakes up in the morning with tasks at hand and

challenges to meet. Some of us have children to nurture or elders who need a

helping hand. Many have to deal with a commute to the office and work of forty

hours or more per week. Our attention is also drawn to cleaning, cooking,

gardening, running errands and a myriad of other daily activities that comprise a

person’s routine.

Most of us, though, can handle these normal situations. When unexpected

events happen our lives become more complicated than we want them to be.They can drain us of our energy and vitality. They may overwhelm us to the

point of zapping away the joy and zest that lies within. Complications have a

way of putting a burden not only upon an individual, but also placing strains

upon families and even entire communities, all with the potential of taking years

to recover from.

Problems seem to have a way of getting a vast amount of attention. We

know about people being malnourished and starving. We know about the

violence and destruction of war. We know about the lack of a good education or

medical care. We know about the turmoil of addictions and abuse, whether self

inflicted or brought on by others. As a collective society, though, we don’t seem

to know as much about how to solve the dilemmas that confront us.

Solutions to almost every kind of problematic situation already exist.

People around the planet have implemented strategies that have successfully

navigated through and resolved particular problems. Individuals and groups

have come up with remedies for all types of issues, whether they are simple or

complex in nature.



Replicating what others have done elsewhere can greatly enhance our

ability to remedy that which ails us. Although most problems lie at the

individual and communal levels, seeking out global answers can undoubtedly

reduce the size and scope of our problems. A worldwide problem-solving

outlook may not always address every situation we encounter; yet if we

continuously search for answers from others we will eventually find a successful

way past even the most troubling of circumstances.

Discovering the true origins of our problems requires introspective

thinking beyond the normal cause and effect. It is one thing to see a homeless

man, feeble and unaided, and dismiss the situation as out of hand. It is

completely different to ask oneself why this person may be indolent or even why

he is just on the wrong end of chance. Whether this human being fell victim to a

hurting economy or a family life too unbearable to remain at home, until we ask

‘why’ we will never be able to solve the problem from the source. Unless we ask

‘why’ we will only continue to put bandages on wounds that deepen day by day.

To ask questions that search beyond appearance and reach the depth of a

given problem requires diligence in thought and attention. Each of us can

consciously decide to focus time and energy into thinking about what really ails

us. We can analyze what impacts us as individuals at home and at work. We can

examine the challenges facing society such as our education, health, and energy

systems. We can look into environmental issues and the impact we may have on

our planet. We all have the ability to contemplate and deliberate in these areas,

but do we have the desire to ask why problems occur and the will power to

really improve things?One way to see our world is to first break down what we do into the

categories that affect everyone, no matter whom you are or where you live. First,

each of us lives our life as a separate individual person and there are specific

issues that each of us must deal with. Next, each of us lives in a community and



is part of the society as a whole. What occurs within that bigger picture often

affects many, if not most, of the people involved. Finally, each of us relies on the

Earth for its resources. The planet doesn't just support our ability to survive but

also gives us the materials that we use for everyday living. Once we establish

these universal ties, we can further explore the issues that may impact people

more geographically. Doing this enables us to not only see the work that has to

be done but allows us to contribute in a more effective manner.

The more time spent in introverted thought, the better we will understand

our problems. As individuals, having mental clarity and looking at situations

objectively is of the utmost importance. Experiencing tranquility and serenity

and focusing energy on what brings us joy and happiness uplifts us from our

troubles. Our spiritually along with having a positive and hopeful outlook

guides us past difficult times. Lastly, our physical health cannot be understated

and the choices we make for our bodies require attentive care. All of these things

interconnect within our minds and physical being and rely on one another for

success. Putting emphasis on your thoughts, happiness, and health can be a

catapult past any problem.

Attention to relationships should also be foremost in our minds. When

thought about, a large number of personal issues arise from how we interact

with other people. Whether a marriage or friendship, neighbor or work-

associate, family member or stranger; the relationships that comprise our lives

matter to the happiness we enjoy. Like the commitment we know that is needed

to maintain a house or the concentration we give at work, our relationships

require the same in order to be healthy and harmonious. Even the mostinsignificant encounter with a stranger is significant to a world without

problems. We all have a ripple on one another, whether positive or negative; and

the size of the effect depends on the attention we give each and every

relationship.



As individuals, the attributes we possess are within our control as well.

Putting focus on bettering ourselves can come in many forms. Some may want to

chart a new course in life. Others may desire more knowledge or more admirable

qualities. A more successful life might be at the top of some lists, while another

list may simply be trying to overcome a difficult loss of a loved one. Whatever

your personal quest, uplift yourself by channeling your thoughts and energy into

harnessing the resources possessed within you.

In addition to analyzing and accounting for the difficulties that affect us as

individuals, those that impact society as a whole need attention as well. These

issues run the full gamut from meeting basic survival needs to the energy

requirements of large industrial nations. What they all have in common, no

matter the scope of the issue, is a dependence on everyone to be a part of the

answer. Earlier we discussed how someone else has already dealt with any

particular situation somewhere on this planet. Finding solutions for educating

the next generation, addressing the healthcare needs of an entire population, and

advancing energy technology to meet current demands all depend on your

participation. People already share massive amounts of information on how to

solve problems but room for improvement will always exist.

Lastly, we must place emphasis on the one home we all share, Planet

Earth. The Earth has played an indispensable and vital role for civilizations come

and gone. Today we may not know what consequences our actions have for

tomorrow’s planet, but we can try to understand our place in the long history

between man and Earth. Respecting the notion that this generation is but a small

link between the past and future will yield actions equally humble towards ourhome. Every one of us can make the choice to think with serious vigor and

likewise proceed with a prudent eye on behalf of Mother Earth.

Our lives do not have to be filled with difficulties. People are capable of

addressing the issues that face us, if only we place finding their solutions at the



top of our priorities. By seeking out answers a person has only knowledge to

gain, relationships to improve, and dreams to achieve. The consequences of

thoughtful analysis and insightful action far outweigh the cost of continuing in

the same manner of trial and error. Sure our world may not be perfect, but if you

are already asking ‘why’, fear not for you are heading us in the right direction.



WORKING TOGETHER FOR A BETTER FUTURE

Communities are places where people live, work, and play. They can be

huge cities with millions of people or tiny hamlets with only a handful of

residents. Each one is home to those who call it so, and just like our homes are

our personal sanctuaries where we feel comfortable in and can enjoy living in, so

should be our communities.

In our homes, when a family member is having a difficult time with

something another family member steps in not because it’s the right thing to do

but because it’s the only thing to do. Parents help children, children help parents,spouses help each other and siblings help one another because of the loving bond

between them. Advice may be given or the burden may be assumed for their

loved one, but in the end coming to the rescue is what occurs in a healthy and

loving family.

A community of people can be viewed similar to a family where there is a

sense of a shared burden for the struggles an individual may have. There aren’t

any second thoughts to helping a relative in need and there shouldn’t be any

debate as to rising to the occasion when a fellow community member needs

some kind of assistance. As with an individual family, it comes down to doing

what is helpful because it’s the only thing to do.

Exploring what a harmonious home has to offer may shed light into ways

to build productive, healthy neighborhoods. Look at what comprises the best

parts of life in the residence you call home. Do people help one another with

cleaning the kitchen or bathroom? Are the people you live with willing to give

up time in front of the television so someone else can watch their favorite show?

Whatever the example, do people sacrifice on the behalf of those they live with?



The same questions applied to communities at large yield equally

important answers. When people maintain a clean street or pick up garbage that

was never theirs in the first place, it speaks to the character of a community.

Neighbors helping one another such as shoveling snow, raking leaves, mowing

lawns, and bringing in trashcans shows the level of generosity present amongst a

group of people. Taking responsibility to protect neighborhood children from

getting hurt in the street exemplifies community. Helping elderly folks with their

grocery shopping exemplifies community. Displaying care and compassion at all

times exemplifies the sense of togetherness needed to turn that community into a

place you call home.

As mentioned before, problems have a way of eating away inside of us

and neighborhoods are the beginning and end point where troubles are felt the

most. Small problems can grab hold of the largest community just as easily as

global problems can trickle their way down to the tiniest village. Volunteering

your time and energy proactively combats those tribulations in the community

and creates the better future we all desire.

Let us take a moment and imagine how much good could be

accomplished with a community wide volunteer effort. If only one-quarter of the

citizenry spent just a few hours a month in volunteer service towards community

betterment, a town or region of mere thousands would suddenly have tens of

thousands of human hours of effort each and every month. A locale with one

hundred thousand inhabitants would find little difficulty in securing hundreds

of thousands of man-hours in community involvement. Whether assisting a

neighbor in putting up a fence or helping the hungry get a bite to eat at a soupkitchen, volunteering can have amazing results.

Numerous ways exist to volunteer that might not automatically come to

mind. Take whatever mathematics you know and help someone learn the basic

skills that will assist him or her in acquiring work. Coach little league and pass



on your baseball talents to a new generation in your town. The local animal

shelter may need someone to help with feedings, and while it may be an hour or

two out of your day once a month it can actually make the day for the future

owners of the pets you cared for. While examples only serve as a paradigm,

exploring the actual ways you can make a difference may reveal volunteer

opportunities that you never before envisioned.

However we assist others, if our communities are to become the best they

can possibly be then they need to become forward thinking and innovative

places where people collectively strive to prevent problems from ever occurring,

as well as helping those in their midst who have a difficult situation to contend

with. The type of community described makes use of ideas that have proven

successful elsewhere. They do not unwaveringly hold onto previous behaviors

because by keeping an open mind to alternative methods of problem solving

they may find an even better approach.

Innovative communities around the planet could radically change what

occurs in cities and towns everywhere. People would help our youth in creative

ways. People would be there to give assistance and guidance when difficulties

arise in a relationship. People would form alliances using proven strategies that

bring peaceful coexistence to diverse groups. People would know about and

implement environmental programs that help sustain our planet.

In developed nations, innovative communities would come to the rescue

that heretofore had been lacking. They would find unique ways to ensure the

impoverished never went hungry, never became homeless, and always had

proper clothing to wear. They would work together to refurbish run downbuildings and parks. They would give encouragement and guidance to those

who struggle to survive or contend with ordinary daily dilemmas.

In underdeveloped regions a well thought out approach to uplifting the

poorest of the poor could forever alter lives. What would happen if hundreds of



thousands of people in the developed world, who possessed certain types of

knowledge and expertise, volunteered their services through the Internet? What

would happen if organizations and businesses contributed their expertise as well

as resources to this effort?

Fortunately, we do not have to imagine seeing this world come together.

Countless people already volunteer their time and effort to causes spanning the

globe. Technology presently employed brings us all closer and provides the

chance to make a difference in our own backyards or even a world away.

Through people acting upon their vision for a better tomorrow, communities and

neighborhoods are being nurtured into places that we can all call home.

Now it’s our turn to continue to strive for that better world. Its my turn to

stand up for your child’s education, its your turn to stand up for the neighbor’s

welfare, its her turn to protect the water he drinks, and its his turn to stand up

for us in return. Ultimately, it’s our turn to work together for a better future.



ACHIEVING GREAT PROGRESS

Progression takes us where it will

Or do we take it where we please? A greater destiny we can fulfill

The evidence lies in our history

What made a man like Martin Luther King Jr. truly remarkable was that

he believed and foresaw the day when the troubles of his time would pass and

great progress would unfold. Just as the cold and discomfort of winter passes

into the warmth and comfort of spring, so would injustices give way to a freer

and nobler society.

The world in 1963 when Martin Luther King Jr. gave what has become

known as his “I have a dream” speech is fading away. Barack Obama’s election

as president of the United States is a testament to that. When you looked at the

faces in the crowd on election night in 2008 and on inauguration day in 2009 you

saw people who deeply believed in the content of one’s character and not the

color of one’s skin.

For the people we admire for their greatness it has more to do with being

in touch with the aspirations of those they speak to rather than the words that

they use. From Roosevelt to Gandhi to King to Kennedy to Mandela to Reagan to

Obama, the ability to convey loudly and boldly a way forward make their

messages pertinent in any era. Whether in their own times or years beyond, they

so eloquently and profoundly remind us that everyone matters and because we

live in a world of possibilities we can and will eventually usher in a better world.

The people who were in the forefront for changing the world for the bettercould not do it by themselves. Expressing remarkable ideas becomes nothing

more than speech until they are followed by great undertakings. Ideas demand

countless people working in the trenches, doing everyday tasks, to eventually

facilitate change in society. Gandhi insisted on civil disobedience, yet it required



immeasurable masses actually acting upon that belief to change India. President

Kennedy’s vision for space exploration would have made little impact unless

individuals took responsibility to see it through. These foot soldiers would

undertake one positive step leading to another one and another one and so on

until they achieved the better tomorrow that they yearned for.

Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. was the person at the forefront of the

movement for equality for black Americans in the nineteen sixties but it was also

the efforts by thousands of other people that actually changed America. The

believers in a better future went out and had local, state and national laws

changed. Journalists wrote articles and books about making a more just society.

People talked about equality on radio and television shows. Many gave of

themselves, not just with their time but sometimes paid for it with imprisonment

or their lives. It is because of these individuals, most of whom we will never

know their names, that a consciousness of equality is now more prevalent in the

United States of America than ever before.

Every individual and every generation leaves a legacy that transcends

their own lifetimes. It can be one that has a positive and beneficial affect or one

that causes unnecessary hardships. When we go back a century, what would our

lives and the world be like if our ancestors had gone a different course? Some of

the negatives of this world may have been left in the past had people decided

once and for all to focus on their prevention. Contrarily, without generation after

generation of our ancestors striving for something better we would not be as

fortunate as we are today. We are now benefiting from their insights and actions

continuing to live on way past their time. Now it is our turn to rise to theoccasion. What is it that we can do that will be our legacy to humanity years and

decades into the future?

As the current architects and engineers for the world of tomorrow,

turning the road we are on into a magnificent highway for all generations to



travel down can be our collective accomplishment. As with any construction

project, there will be roadblocks and setbacks. Inevitably, battles have to be

fought and victories have to be attained. Turning what seems insurmountable

into a smooth road ahead can become our success story if only we set our sights

on its completion.

Even though the times dictate the dominant problems in a given society,

the process to create a better future may be similar in all situations. An

individual or a group brings the problematic issue to the forefront. Others then

get involved, at first talking to friends, neighbors or anyone who is willing to

listen, hoping to change the minds and hearts of their fellow citizens. Once

enough people are brought into the fold, real change can occur with laws getting

passed or actions taken en mass that create the desired affect. Eventually, the

issues that were so overbearing become a thing of the past.

This process for great change can show itself even on a small, localized

level. How many times have children who have been considered un-teachable

been taught? How many times have polluted waterways been cleaned up? How

many times have sworn enemies become allies? How many times have the

impoverished in underdeveloped nations turned their lives around? The answer

to each of these is more often than we may think.

Local communities and specific local issues have their own Kings,

Gandhis and Mandelas. They are the individuals who speak out and say we have

to do something. These community citizens do things that often are out of the

ordinary, whether by challenging beliefs and attitudes or being instrumental in

getting people to undertake new endeavors. Standing up for something betterthen becomes the initial foundation for an improved community, with those who

follow years later as the ultimate beneficiaries.

There are lessons we can learn from one another that are more powerful

and more enduring than those typically taught in classrooms and history books.



Men, women and children from yesteryear and those who presently reside in

other communities can teach us what works. Great progress in other places can

be the inspiration we use to motivate ourselves to go beyond what we had

previously thought was doable.

Achieving great progress requires as many people as possible to get on

board. The more that volunteer, the more minds and hands we have working on

our common problems, and the more we focus on becoming better human beings

the sooner progress will be made. Those with insights in certain areas can

contribute their know-how. People who are retired can lend their wisdom. The

young can give their youthful energy and exuberance. Everyone has something

they can contribute to community betterment.

Of all the people to get involved in making our future better, the most

important group is the young. They will enjoy the long lasting benefits from

today's benevolent actions. Seeing how volunteering pays positive dividends

will inspire them to even greater heights.

The youth of today will also become the adults, parents and leaders of

tomorrow. There is no reason why they cannot be at the forefront of change.

Learning now about issues and possible solutions will make them wiser when

dealing with their own future world. By starting now the youth will be able to

impact their own destiny like no other generation.

Great ideas touch us to the core of our being and inspire us to believe in

something greater than ourselves. Deep down we know that everyone matters.

Deep down we know that tomorrow has to be better than today. Deep down we

know that we have to take that extra step.Help create a legacy to be remembered, one talked about with admiration

for years to come. Help usher in that better world, so far improved from today

that our descendents will feel no choice but to utter these few words, “Thank

you, we appreciate all that you have done”.

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