“People Don’t Care What You Know…”

….until they know that you care…”

I can’t help but think about this, especially in our political landscape. As candidates gear up for the 2016 Presidential Elections, they are busy forming exploratory committees, PACs, fundraisers, and image-making machines.

They seem to forget the simplest, cheapest and most effective tool over any formidable opponent…COMPASSION and EMPATHY.

I would hope that the past unsuccessful candidates would learn this. The media wants to hype the last mid-term elections as a “sweep” of one political party over another. I see it as a result of  1). People didn’t feel that anyone cared and didn’t go to the polls to vote; and 2). The winning candidates found enough people to go vote.  No one really won…especially if the newly-elected officials don’t get it either.

This becomes evident when all you can see is:

....politicians boasting of their knowledge and business acumen.

…failure to cooperate on legislation that could help their constitutes simply because of who recommended it.

…their push for policies that only benefit themselves.

…their making no effort to try to empathize with or understand their constituents.

…not raising the minimum wage; not supporting veteran’s benefits; and rallying against Medicaid, Social program and healthcare simply because you don’t want some-one else getting the credit.

…Former Presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his “47%” comment, as though this segment of people don’t matter, only the other 53% do (which contributed to his loss.)

I am learning this even more so, while navigating some health challenges. I can sense if a doctor or healthcare provider cares about ME or if they are just trying to fulfill the required number of appointments for the day.

The Bible says:

Philippians 2:4 (NKJV):  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Galatians 6:10 (NKJV): 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

1 John 3:17 (NKJV): 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV): 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Memorable Quotes:

“Life is an echo. What you send out, comes back. What you sow, you reap. What you give, you get. What you see in others, exists in you.” – Zig Ziglar

“People won’t remember what you said; People won’t remember what you did. People will never forget how you made them feel.” – Dr. Maya Angelou

“Kindness is a language that we all can understand. Even the blind can see it and the deaf can hear it.”  - Mother Teresa

“Do you not know that God entrusted you with that money (all above what buys necessities for your families) to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to help the stranger, the widow, the fatherless; and, indeed, as far as it will go, to relieve the wants of all mankind? How can you, how dare you, defraud the Lord, by applying it to any other purpose?”  -  John Wesley

“What if it becomes less about how we look and more about how much we care? What if it becomes less about how much money we earn and more about how much we share our good fortune? Imagine a world where who we are in our hearts is the ultimate status symbol.” -  Amy Leigh Mercree

“Who doesn't want to know that we notice them and value them? And who might respond to us better when they feel that they matter? It probably cannot be overstated – it matters...that people matter.” -  Steve Goodier

When we can shift our focus from caring only about ourselves to one of  caring about each other, the world will be a better place…