What do I care about?
What follows is raw and unfiltered. It is my attempt to answer the question, “What do I care about?.” It might seem strange or odd, but it is my way, and I encourage you to find and share yours.
There is so much beauty in the world.
I hate the fact that I nor my family might ever get to experience it because of the continued destruction of our planet.
I feel deeply for others who struggle through life with mental illness and addiction, not knowing that there is another way, that there is hope, and that there is help. I hate that millions of people cannot access the help, support, and medication they need to live a life they can feel good about. I hate the judgment and stigma that still exists concerning mental illness and the use of medication and that there are still people who choose not to seek help out of fear of being labeled weak.
I hate that there are still people of all ages dying of hunger. I hate that there are still people of all ages dying of thirst or dying because the water they do have access to is killing them. I hate that so many people are still sleeping on the streets, hungry, freezing, alone. I hate that so many people still reach the end of their hope every single day. Who feel that the only way to stop the pain and the fear is by ending their lives by their own hands.
I hate that war and money are still prioritized over the well-being of all living beings. I hate that war and money are still prioritized over the health and prosperity of our only home. I hate that so many people are still controlled through fear and intimidation.
I hate that people are still being judged, ridiculed, and murdered because of their beliefs, for not believing, or for finding solace through a spiritual path all their own.
I hate the fact that so many people can benefit from technological advances but are excluded from it either through political agendas, exclusions based on where they live, their financial situation, or because they are not the “typical” user.
I hate that people have to do work they hate simply because they feel there is no other option. I hate that there is no, or very little, support for those who want to create something of their own. This includes starting a business, a startup, an idea, or following a dream. I hate that people feel it is always either a billion-dollar company or nothing. I hate that people are afraid to try.
I hate that I am afraid to try. I hate that I am afraid to fail. I hate that there is a gospel of success through failure, yet, the world seems to punish those who fail.
I hate that people are scared to contribute to open source or are unable to find a community where they feel welcome and safe. I hate that there is still no clear path to being an open-source creator. I hate that people still push back when those in open source ask to be paid. I hate that there are still multi-billion dollar companies benefiting from creators’ work without giving back meaningfully. I hate that there are creators who self-medicate so they can “push through” burnout.
I hate that people in developing countries are not treated and paid the same as those in developed countries. I hate that everyone is not paid based on the value of their contribution, irrespective of gender, race, ethnicity, beliefs, or physical location on planet Earth.
I hate that there are people who do not have enough. I hate that so many people can seemingly never have enough.
I hate that being yourself is no longer good enough. I hate that being content is no longer good enough. I had that there is so much judgment. I hate that there is so much hate.
I hate that there is so much I hate.
I cannot fix it all. I might not even be able to fix any of it, but I plan to do what I can and hope you will do what you can. If all we have is hope, then let’s make it contagious.
