From outside the box

There is a question I often ask myself as a way to gage how my actions, morals, habits, and tastes affect the world. Here's the question....If everybody was just like me or did exactly what I did, what would the world be like? Would the world be a better place or not? It's an interesting question because if you answer it honestly, you might surprise yourself. At the expense of sounding a bit audacious as well as a little self vituperating allow me to share how the world might be if everybody was just like me......

Part one, the good things....We would need no locks on any doors because there would be no theft. The highways would always be clean. There would be no prisons because there would be no serious crime. Women would be safe to go anywhere at any time by themselves. All yards would be green and mowed. There would be less fences. There would be more health food stores. Government would be very minimal, with very few or no laws at all (except for driving laws and rules that we would need to keep from running into each other). Animals would have more rights. There would be no wars. There would be more and better selections of size 15 shoes. There would be very little cattle because nobody would eat them. All food would be organic. Houses would be clean inside. Children would be the most important thing on earth. There would be no loud car alarms. And blah, blah, blah. Now in all fairness I have to say that many of these aspects stated above would apply for most of us (except the animal thing).

Part two....the not so good things. If the whole world shared my habits, moralities, and tastes things could be quite boring. There would be no loud music. There would be no music in restaurants. Nobody would dance. There would be very few professional sports. Many things would not get done because everybody would hate physical labor. There would be more accidents on the highways involving deer because there would be no hunting. Dogs would be freely running the neighborhoods in packs. There would be no "reality" shows on TV. There would be no large parties. There would be more car accidents because of all the naked people walking around. The only books sold at Barnes and Nobles would be self help, new age, and philosophy books. Rain would be more popular than sunshine. There would be no Christmas cards or outside Christmas lights. There would be no Indian gambling casinos (just the concerts). There would be no mixed drinks. There would be no churches. There would be no rap or heavy metal music. There would be no awards shows to honor movie stars. OK, now keep in mind, none of the above would be outlawed, they just wouldn't exist because there would be no interest in them. It would be a boring world indeed....but a very safe world.

Now to cap off this little disquisition of how the world would be if everybody was like me, I would like to share a few of the little things that I do that I would like to see everybody do. These are things that are simple and easy, and I think would make a difference....Bring your own reusable bags to the grocery store. Bag your own groceries. Grab a cart from the parking lot on your way into the store. Take your own trash out from the movie theatre. Put your towels in the hamper at the gym instead of on the floor. Don't let your dogs bark outside for than three minutes. Pick up somebody else's trash from the sidewalk. Share your passions and beliefs. Drive slower in neighborhoods. Give a few bucks to the Humane Society every year. Talk more about politics. And most of all....Try to see magic in everything, everywhere, everyday!

Indeed, it takes all kinds to make the world go round. If the whole world was like me, it wouldn't work. If the whole world was like you, it wouldn't work. But every now and then, it might be a good idea to stop and ask yourself the question....if the whole world was just like you, what kind of world would it be?