It appears to me that the current generation of children (by those I mean young adults/young marrieds-there's still hope for the youngers, but barely...read on)) seems to be fairly self-focused. I will immediately say that I do not believe this to be true of all young people, and that plenty of them have a world view that goes past the end of their own noses, but many, unfortunately, are in the other camp. Now, I am not old enough to know if this is a recent phenomenon, or even if these people will eventually grow out of it, but I (of course) have a theory on potentially how this came to pass.
It is unlikely that this is the only reason, but it is certainly a prevailing trend that is not doing any of us any favors. What is this scourge that turns well meaning individuals into those looking to see what it means for them?
The "Chesed Prize."
Apparently today one cannot do work for an organization on a purely volunteer basis. One cannot collect goods or money for those less fortunate or institutions in need without some sort of tangible real world payoff, where the ante gets upped as the volunteers get older.
I understand the need to motivate some kids, and incentivize, but it has become so rampant that it seems that there are hardly any projects accomplished without a "prize" attached. From sodas, to trinkets that break within five minutes, to pizza parties, to grandiose trips, all good deeds come with some sort of, well, bribe. In discussing the collection of small bags of potato chips for a local hospital with one of the principals of one of the schools (where the student body would be helping to bring a small bag of deep fry solace to those who were in the hospital with a loved one), the question was raised what would the kids would be given for bringing in their chips.
This is the problem. We've taken the act of giving, of caring, of doing for others and made it about what we can get for ourselves. The worst part is, the children who are innately giving and caring are having that character trait diminished in themselves through these programs that insist you need to get to give. We've created selfishness in the realm of selflessness, and then we wonder why know one cares about anyone besides themselves.
Is this definitely why so many young people cannot (as I have said often) "get past themselves" to figure out a way to go a little out of their own comfort zone, or out of their way for others? And by others I don't necessarily mean strangers.And by out of the way it doesn't necessarily mean doing tasks and chores usually associated with "giving" or volunteering. Sometimes it takes some effort to figure out how to join a Simcha, even if it means driving far, getting a babysitter, and changing a schedule here and there. But we can do things for people in our lives. We can make an effort and not only do what comes simply. And if the payoff is rubber chicken and kids who are kvetchy, but we've made the effort and we show others that we care about them, and that they matter, then that's the payoff. Someone else's happiness. For one small disruption in our lives we've taken the feelings of someone else into account, dare I say, first. That doesn't mean every Simcha, or every event, but when family makes an event, or events by people we have a true connection with (and when you are young you don't have those every night)it may be the simplest act of Chesed to just show up.
We just need to be more focused on not always putting ourselves first. But in a culture where everyone needs to be happy without necessarily creating the opportunities to achieve true happiness, it's hard to find those who can really put others first. This is not about being someone who volunteers, or someone who is always giving. It's about being out in the world and not always assuming that others are out to get one over on you, or that you need to push your way forward, or be aggressive in driving, and just generally not give a thought to the people around you.
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