Categories
motivation

How to Find New Ways to Add Value

Cartoon of a boy and a space alien

When I was a child, there were many stories about UFOs: Unidentified Flying Objects. As I watched TV shows like Star Trek, Lost in Space, and My Favorite Martian, I also heard stories about a flying saucer allegedly being kept at Area 51 in New Mexico, I often wondered how space aliens would find a decent place to park. If all the stories were real, I could have made a killing setting up a parking garage for weary extraterrestrial travelers.

Admittedly, I would have had some challenges getting funding for such a project. But it was a case for finding a perceived need and filling it. Too bad the need was for a group of “people” that are probably not real, or at the very least are quite elusive.

We add value to others when we find a need and fill it. I’ve been thinking a lot about this over the weekend. Our world has some heavy needs as COVID-19 continues to disrupt lives and economies. There will be lots of needs in the coming months. As we wait for this disease to peak and for immunity to grow, what can we do to add value to others? It may not be something we charge others. In fact, there will be times adding value is just doing the neighborly, altruistic thing.

How can we be kind to others and help others who need it right now? Never mind the space aliens. They’ll be fine even if they are having trouble finding a place to park.

Cartoon of a boy and a space alien. The extraterrestrial says, "How much do you charge to park in your back yard?"
Categories
Encouragement K! Magazine Kidzmatter Magazine Magazine motivation

The Many Ways We Find Comfort

Cartoon of a little brother and big sister. The boy says, "Why shouldn't I suck my thumb? After all, it's gluten free!"
Published in "K! Kidzmatter Magazine"

The last week has been a deluge of Coronavirus craziness. It’s been enough to make a grown man want to suck his thumb. Not that I’ve tried it. At least I didn’t before I washed my hands thoroughly for twenty seconds humming the ABC song so that I properly lathered up and washed away all the nastiness of my extremities!

There are many ways we find comfort during trying times. Here are a few I noticed this week.

We will get through this and come out better for it. In the meantime, we may have several weeks that will test our emotions and resolve. I feel for the parents that have to scramble to find ways to deal with their kids being out of school. And I know what it’s like to be concerned for aging parents since that is the age group that seems most vulnerable.

Acknowledge your feelings and let’s find ways to comfort each other even if we need to do it from a distance. I won’t fault a child or adult if they resort to thumb sucking while we barrel through. After all, a thumb is gluten free.

Cartoon of a little brother and big sister. The boy says, "Why shouldn't I suck my thumb? After all, it's gluten free!"
Published in “K! Kidzmatter Magazine”
Categories
motivation

Step Away From the TMI!

cartoon of a woman tossing her smartphone
Copyright Kevin Spear

This week has been filled with information. It’s taken TMI (Too Much Information) to a new level! Newsday has an article entitled, Coronavirus Conundrum: How Much Information is Too Much Information? In it, the article states the predicament public officials find themselves in.

“The excessive communication [public officials broadcast] is exacerbated by the environment we’re in… But it’s unavoidable because of the modalities of communication now. If they don’t fill up the space, the space will be filled up by rumor, misinformation, and speculation.”

Gerald Benjamin in Coronavirus Conundrum

Officials feel they need to get the information out. Twenty-four-hour cable news networks have news and opinions to give. Everybody has to get their opinion out there. And some opinions are treated as fact without any evidence. Conspiracy theories abound about the origins of the disease and how it’s now being handled. It’s enough to make you want to disinfect your smartphone from the inside as well as the exterior!

But now it’s Saturday. We made it to the weekend. Take a deep breath and step away from all the information. It will be all right. Even if you are reading this on a weekday, it’s okay to step away from all the news right now. Don’t worry. It will all be waiting for you when you get back. Besides, if it’s really important, someone will probably want to discuss it with you. But be careful. If someone claims this virus was caused by space aliens that want to buy Manhattan high-rises at bargain prices, you may want to reevaluate your news source.

cartoon of a woman tossing her smartphone
Copyright Kevin Spear
Categories
baby children cartoons K! Magazine Kidzmatter Magazine Magazine

Some Calm During This Crazy Coronavirus Time

Cartoon of a girl and a baby. The girl exclaims, "Bobby's nose is running! Code Green!"
Published in "K! Kidzmatter Magazine."

As I write this, The world is coming to grips with the COVID-19 virus. In the United States, professional sports organizations, schools, and businesses are closing until we can get a better handle on the extent and severity of the outbreak. It’s been a crazy week no matter how you look at it. By the way, happy Friday the Thirteenth!

When facing an unknown such as a contagious virus, it can be easy to overreact like the girl in today’s cartoon. How can you not when everyday life is being affected even if you don’t get the virus? Yet, we will get through this. We have endured outbreaks through millennia and we will get through this one as well.

As we go through this pandemic, remember to take precautions, but do so with calm. Panic causes people to do some crazy things like put a daycare on lockdown when a baby has a runny nose. It can make someone buy six months’ worth of bathroom tissue. It can make you want to disinfect your cat. Keep calm and we will get through this!

Cartoon of a girl and a baby. The girl exclaims, "Bobby's nose is running! Code Green!"
Published in “K! Kidzmatter Magazine.”
Categories
Internet Social Media Social Media

Discretion in a Hyper-Sharing World

Cartoon of boy and dad. The boy says, "You should have seen what Bobby did in class! It's already posted on Youtube!"

YouTube was well on its way when I wrote and drew this cartoon in 2009. We have done so much more with social media since then. According to a site, 300 hours of videos are uploaded to YouTube every minute. That’s a lot of cat videos!

Should every moment be shared? It no doubt affects the behavior of people if they are performing for social media. It may be tempting to do something outrageous if the goal is to get as many views and likes that you can.

Discretion is a word that isn’t used much when it comes to social media. It is something that comes with maturity and is easy to forget in the heat of the moment. But it is something we all need to keep in mind. It takes wisdom to do this. Wisdom comes from experience and experience comes from making mistakes. Unfortunately, it can be very embarrassing and life-changing if you make your mistakes on social media for all to see.

Before you get ready to post that video, before you post your opinion or respond to that obnoxious post with an equally obnoxious response, consider discretion. Use your better judgement. Let’s keep ourselves from wishing we could take that comment or video back.

Social media is a powerful tool. Let’s use it wisely.

Cartoon of boy and dad. The boy says, "You should have seen what Bobby did in class! It's already posted on Youtube!"