Just do it.
I recollect a very deep discussion regarding what deems an act as true altruism. It was back in college where I was introduced to the word for the very first time.
Altruism, being that selfless concern of doing the right, I quickly came to realize, can very much be debatable in a room if one has the influence to question.
Ideally, our professor wanted to rattle us up with the opening question, “Does altruism truly exist?”
“Of course it does,” one asserts.
Then, the wise professor calmly continues, “How do you really know?” This is when plausible acts of altruism is brought to question in a room.
One, for instance, who goes into a burning building to save a life could be observed as an act of altruism up until someone asks, “Did the fear of guilt sink in to help as others watched and thus, did the pressure of onlookers overpower the fear of danger to commit to the courageous act?” Similarly, we could ask the same question with one who chooses to save someone who moments before was to jump in front of a train. Were people gasping, urging the closest to the person attempting to jump to heroically act? Did someone close by, then, feel the pressures of humane duty to help out?
An act of altruism? Or, sensing that others were watching and thus, only then, felt compelled to help? Selfless concern or pressured to do the right under the eyes of those around and watching?
In my nearly opening years of twenty, I recall my confusion, thinking, “Why is there a word that exists to debate whether one naturally did right or was under the circumstances, drawn to do right?” I add to question, “Why does this matter? Isn’t right just, well… right? Does it matter whether or not a motive or incentive was involved in getting one to do right?”
Although I (most likely) may have, I don’t recall asking any question in that room as I remember mostly listening (perhaps honestly because I was bemused as to why the discussion to question goodness). Just thinking to debate that word today still gets me. Why stress of caring whether one thought to do the right before actually doing it? Right is in the heart of the beholder. If I do something that I thought right at the time, I don’t ponder on why I did it. I believe I just find myself thankful to have been placed there at the right time to help. After all, dire moments are mostly unplanned or due to impulsivity that leads to unthought of ramifications. When one needs help or healing and another provides such, should one question another why they helped? Rather, should we be concerned, instead, why others did not?
Yes. There are the gray matters where what one deems as right could very much impact so much wrong in others. Hence, a dam built on the other side of a mountain could very much flood the village on the other side. Providing financial aid to businesses in need could very much create fraudulent activities for abusers. These gray lines I would like to think are the Yin and Yang of our human makeup. Choices have to be made that won’t satisfy or provide justice for all. And yet, the intent was to serve right and do right to provide help.
We help by giving aide. How many help without caring of the eyes watching or ears listening, however? How many simply do right without thinking otherwise? How many suggest to advise to create peace and not division? Here are the questions I suppose necessitates the existence of the very word, “altruism”.
It has become an awareness of mine to see actions questioned- to really ask “why?” as a big part of people’s hunger for understanding one another. I laugh to think a bird on a sycamore tree seeing ten healed and one return to say “thank you” and yet, rather than looking at one’s actions, seeing it (marvelously) a good and rightful act, there are the huddles commiserating with one another of such things as what day it is, questioning the one to have just taken away the pains and agonies of others. I envision that bird on that sycamore tree to think, “Thank you for saying ‘thank you’ to the one who returned back to express gratitude. To those questioning, go tell others of your thoughts.” (I would concur with the bird to then suggest the thought, “Step aside to clear way of the ailing who are in need of healing now find such help.”)
I am a ridiculously flippant on-watcher of interviews after a heroic act as the reporter asks the question to the man or woman who ran into a burning building or helped someone from taking their life, “What made you want to help?” That confused look in that hero’s face as an answer comes out satisfyingly to some while surprisingly to many, “It was the right thing to do.” I should put a question mark after that answer, really, because I must think if I was the beating heart of that hero, I would most definitely be stumped at being asked that question myself.
The world is an interesting place where in times of trouble, we watch and scrutinize; in times of our own troubles, we fight, flight, or freeze while others watch and scrutinize. We can only hope for one’s help in time of our own troubles. Good actions doing the right around the world gives us continued hope that in times of desperate measures, there are those who are willing to help. Let us just be thankful on that truth.
We heal. We help. We don’t plan for it, for goodness sake. We don’t sign up just so we can put it on social media to say we “care”. Okay. I believe there are some. However, we’re back at that human thing. We just want to feel good doing right. The difference with altruism? I suppose my professor would have been proud of me to conclude (I honestly must have said something somewhat controversial as I do recall him looking at me through his spectacles, giving me a smirk with his hands in his pockets and all, as he walked back and forth in front of the room close by me) that altruistic acts don’t think about benefits of an act- the spirit within takes over and just does it. “It” being that answer at an interview, “It was just the right thing to do.” That, I would think even comedian, Dave Chapelle, couldn’t argue with. He and I looking at each other (or thinking similarly because I know him as close as my chuckles to his jokes) to admit, “Glad someone had the nerve.”
Sometimes, it won’t be you compelled to help. However, when eyes are looking at you, please be not afraid. Rather, see it as the energy around you looking your way only because of all those they see, you are that one believed who can. As I speak those words, know that I say them for my heart, mind, and spirit to hear, too. We must forgive and permit ourselves when we choose to not help. There should be no condemnation to such choice. However, when you do help, I would hope it is done with pure utter grace and strength. And whether your right is condemned or condoned, your response should be that you didn’t do it for the already healed and safe ones. You did it for the one in need.
I have this sign I wrote over a decade ago that I still place outside my window to remind all students (and myself):
“In the presence or absence of an audience, the greatest applause comes from within.”
Altruism. Take that (respectfully), Professor.
I believe whoever was in that Nike media team room who suggested the ubiquitous message “Just Do It” was onto something beyond their understanding.
Just Do It.
