News Fatigue, Rising Cynicism, and "Catching Your Second Wind"

Watching the news everyday, hearing the status quo; Congress and The House Republicans refuse to work with President Obama in passing key legislation, police officers continue to beat to a bloody pulp and sometimes murder unarmed black men (as if trying to prove a point or set an example).

A racist song/chant has made it's way into the headlines causing a corporation like Starbucks -- to use it's well-known brand to lead race discussions, a hijacked plane leaves hundreds dead, or an unfit parent chooses to abuse and murder their own children -- more innocent lives lost.

So due to my mental fatigue it was necessary for me to not write anything -- to rest my thought process, which on many occasions had me with head in hand or tears in my eyes. 

I wanted to write about President Obama's extraordinary and 

history-making 'Selma' speech, which had me completely overcome with emotion and pride. Then, I thought about how 50 years ago that day, our American citizens took the same walk across that Alabama bridge (which is still named after a well-known racist) in the fight for equality and fairness under the law, only to be met by what we're seeing today.

President Obama is correct in saying that this country's progress has indeed come a long way, but when you watch before your very eyes as people use their authority and power to strip away the centuries of sacrifices brought about by the blood, sweat and tears of Americans, you find your cynicism kicking itself up a few notches until you almost give up in defeat.

However, when you come to realize that our adversaries would love nothing more than for us to give up in defeat, you draw your second wind and strength from the fact that "you've already been paid for", as the iconic Dr. Maya Angelou would say.

And because we've already been paid for is more than enough reason to not sit back and become complacent; like parents that have already paid for their child's college education and instead of getting that education, the child chooses to sit and do nothing while wasting their parent's investment. 

But does the child even realize that the investment was in him or her? What was the child lacking that made him or her think, that they weren't worthy enough to be invested in?

Regarding the latter, is how we must always view our opportunities in life; we've already been paid for and we're investments to society. As long as we keep this in mind, it should make it easier to fight against complacency and whenever fatigue sets in, your "second wind" and regrouped strength from those already passed -- should be enough to keep you going in the present...and into the future.

In taking my own advice...I press on.

2015 LA