Hat's Off To The Doers

As the aftermath of the hurricanes along the Gulf Coast continues to unfold, the thing that is so compelling is the difference in the way people deal with their issues.

It's always dangerous to oversimplify and label behaviors, but the group that stands out, for me, in the aftermath of the hurricanes are the "doers." The mostly anonymous, unheralded, boots on the ground people rebuilding their lives and the lives of others.

Victims wait for someone to take care of them - someone to take action to see that their needs are met. They ask the question " Why Me?"," What did I do to deserve this?", " When is someone going to do something?" They wait for someone else to take charge of their needs.

The doers take action - no matter how small, to start the process of rebuilding. Many could fall into the trap of complaining and despair- but they know that will only waste one of the most precious things they have - their own energy and hope for a positive future.

Unfortunately, the victims get a lot more press time than the doers - the doers are too busy picking up sticks, getting supplies to others, tearing down dangerous structures, providing help and comfort to the sick, injured and displaced. The doers know that personal action breeds hope and energy. They know that waiting for someone else to act is a sure way to be disappointed and frustrated. They know the only security they have is in their own accomplishments. Doers fill voids - and become leaders by example. They make things happen - some in remarkable ways - most in really unremarkable ways.

As the institutions of government and the press continue to place blame - and there certainly is plenty to go around, it would be easy to take the position that this is a hopeless mess. And I suspect many have thrown up their hands and said that - and decided to move on - or to slide into despair- or to stop hoping. After all, if the government can't get it going, how can an individual stand a chance?

Don't count the doers in that group. They may complain about things, but they take pride in getting things done - often in spite of the best efforts of the institutions to make them follow the rules. They are resourceful - if one thing doesn't work - try something else. And if that doesn't work - go on to option three. Doers aren't easily discouraged - they persist because they know persistence is the essential ingredient to accomplishment.

Hundreds of thousands of doers are working on the aftermath of the hurricanes and other disasters throughout the world - actually, there are probably millions of doers who are - right now- making a difference in bringing life a little closer to normal for themselves and those around them.

The greatest thing about all these doers is the fact that they come from every kind of background, every kind of education, every kind of economic circumstance, every ethnic, religious and racial background. Some are high profile, most are not. Some lead in positions of authority, most do not. Many have been made materially poor by the disasters - but they refuse to be poor in spirit. And they won't stay poor for long - they have too much to offer.

I gotta tell you - these people are the backbone of our country - the real reason we can absorb so many difficulties and still explore space, and open a new, privately funded aquarium in Atlanta, and continue to grow economically, and fight a war, and survive the brutal divisions the press promotes every day.

Hats off to the doer's - thank you for all you are.