I want to thank everybody who has stuck with me and the blog. I have evolved a lot, and I bet you have, too. Imagine what you were doing 10 years ago.
Today marks the next step in the Snooze Button Generation blog's evolution. I will be taking our readers for a ride and in a new direction, but that direction won't be revealed until the next post. Ooh, it's a cliffhanger!
The new direction will focus on an important cause — one that is universal, bipartisan and will actually help individuals and the world. The cause is about empowering others, creating leaders (not followers) and helping people's actual lives. While it's true that a lot of the tone in this blog has been offbeat and humorous, let me say that the new direction is no joke. But we'll have fun with it, homie.
I am curious about you, reading this now. If you prioritized what truly matters to you in a few words, or just one cause, what would it be? What is your cause?
In the age of quick, chewable thoughts, I imagine that many would joke and say things like "liquid soap" or "Big Chungus." Or maybe the thoughts would go to "dump Trump," "get rich" or "Channing Tatum." But truly, deeply, seriously, what is your cause?
Sadly, I fear most don't really have a cause. It might be "my job" or "school." If that's the case, feel free to think in the hypothetical. If you had a cause, what would it be? I plan on taking action with my cause, and I urge you to do the same, if you have not already.
Please share your cause as a comment. I will be an ally — assuming I do indeed support your cause (our cause). I ask that you become an ally for my cause (our cause), too — assuming you support it when it's revealed.
For the first three years of the blog, we did an average of two posts per week. We talked about Atari, Lloyd Dobler, the Apple IIc, Drakkar Noir, the Humpty Dance, Jake from "Sixteen Candles" and much more.
I enjoyed writing about that stuff and got a lot of laughs, but on Feb. 16, 2011, my world flipped upside down when my dad, the XMan, unexpectedly passed away. I somehow pieced together a post on that traumatic day.
When I thawed out slightly from my dad's death, I took the blog to a more personal place. I stayed with old-school pop culture, but evolved to include more personal posts and some that were flat-out intimate. That format has lasted for the past few years.
The new focus will be more humanistic and genuinely connect us. Real connection is worth more now than ever — in the world of social media and fake cyber connection. Now, you might say, "Wait a second. Isn't this fake too?"
I don't think so. I am sincere about connecting us, and others, through our causes. Heck, there are 10 years worth of blogs to check out and see the evolution of how we got here. I have realized that we can't really accomplish anything if we go at it alone. We need to connect, and we need each other's support.
What's your cause?
My cause is to be productive in the community that I live in. I want to help the people around me and make my existence matter in the world that I live in.
ReplyDeleteThank you for responding! ... My next thing would be to ask: How, and by doing what?
DeleteMy cause would mostly to enjoy life. That encompasses a lot of things, including having money to not worry about basic necessities and having enough left over to splurge some times.
ReplyDeleteI hear you. That was my focus when I was younger, but I've learned that I get a lot out of helping others (or at least trying to help).
DeleteI think my cause would be to help animals around the world
ReplyDeleteLove it! I definitely support this cause!!
DeleteMy cause is, and always has been, helping and being there for my family.
ReplyDeleteAnd family is a broader term for me these days. It includes lots of folks who are
not actually my blood relatives.
I believe I am building off the support you gave me. Love you, Mom
DeletePersonally, I don't know what my cause is. YET. I think that I'm not in a rush to find it but rather on a happy go lucky journey to find out what it is.
ReplyDeleteGood! It took me to age 45 to find my “cause.” But the good news is it’s on your radar now!
DeleteMy cause would be to enjoy life for what it is. There's no point in worrying about the future when you could be appreciating the moment you have right now.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of NOW. But I feel we must somehow help the future. Right?
DeleteI don't exactly know my cause yet. I don't have a drive that I wake up every morning for. I'm not in a rush to find the rush, but it would be fun to have one eventually.
ReplyDeleteI like your thoughtful comment. I believe that it's wonderful to wake up with a mission, but, ironically, it's nice to balance that out with good family time and down time.
DeleteHonestly, I'm not sure yet. I'm so passionate about so many things that I don't think I can choose just one :)
ReplyDeleteBreathe. For me, I realize that as an adult, I can only focus on one thing. When we're younger, we must explore.
DeleteI think that the World Food Programme is a great cause because the many countries suffer with hunger and malnutrition and this cause really finds a way to deliver food to those who truly need it. For example, Yemen is in a horrible crisis with more than half of its population in need of food and humanitarian assistance. The WFP was there to provide packages containing of food, water, and supplies to thousands of Yemenis.
ReplyDeleteI hear you. I wholeheartedly agree with this. I have added a link on this website to connect to the World Food Programme. Thank you for sharing!!!
DeleteI think my cause is to help my community and make the world a better place.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds good, but I say: "Be more specific." Right?
DeleteMy cause is to be kind to others. Everyone is going through a tough time dealing with their own obstacles.
ReplyDeleteTrue. Before we do any cause, first things first. Self-care is most important.
DeleteMy cause is to pursue my dream. Mechanical engineering has always been a dream of mine, being able to create robots or structures by yourself has always stunned me. I haven't always been the gregarious type, so working as a team didn't really work with me well. Nevermind that though, Mechanical engineering will always be my goal.
ReplyDeleteMechanical engineering sounds great. Like it! But why? How will mechanical engineering help our world?
DeleteHonestly, I would just do anything that makes me happy. Happiness is my cause.
ReplyDeleteSure. Happiness is important. But what exactly does "happiness" mean? There is a chance that happiness is not individual, but about the community.
Deletehuman purpose is to love and care for each other.
ReplyDeleteonce you hit rock bottom, you can only go up from there,
but you'll have to get support from your loved ones.
help each other out and you'll find your cause even if you're doubtful or scared.
I agree. Human purpose is to love and care for each other. I wonder how we do that in this day and age, when we have so much technology and less and less face-to-face time.
DeleteMy purpose is to help the world in anyway I can. I want to be positive everyday. My purpose is also to be successful when I grow up and have a stable job.
ReplyDeletePositivity helps. I, too, knew I had to get a stable job fast. But after doing that, my thoughts soon shifted to: "How can I help others?"
DeleteMost people say that they have their cause already but im still young so i haven't found it yet
ReplyDeleteAaah, this must definitely be one of my students. I say that is fine. Remember George Bernard Shaw: "Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."
DeleteMy cause is to make sure every child, especially girls in poverty receive education. I believe every child deserves to have access to a school. Many young girls before the age of 15 are married off because their families can't support them. This is a never ending cycle of poverty and I believe it's my cause to break the cycle of poverty by building schools, raising money, and change many lives of people in under developing countries. I hope that in the future I can make a difference in the world.
ReplyDeleteI love what you're saying, but I am here to help us figure out the next step. What do we do now? Are there organizations we can connect with? What can we do? I agree with you, and how do we actually take action?
DeleteI am not sure what my cause is yet. However, I do know that I want to be a positive person who spreads happiness towards others.
ReplyDeletePositivity helps. And I suggest looking into this organization: https://www1.wfp.org/
DeleteI really don't know what my cause is right now because I don't really think about it
ReplyDeleteLet me push you a little bit. Think about it. Think about it. Why not?
DeleteMy cause is to make my parents and family happy. To make sure that I am successful since they were not able to get far in their lives.
ReplyDeleteRed flag, red flag, red flag!!! ... Thank you for sharing. But I must tell you that you are in charge of your own happiness and no one else's. To think that you can "make my parents and family happy" is wrong. Be your own self!
DeleteMy purpose is to be kind and considerate to those around me no matter what.
ReplyDeleteKindness and consideration are important in my world. I am happy that they are in yours, too. The question then is how do we put kindness and consideration into action.
DeleteMy cause is to build a wall and make 'Murica great again. (JK don't bully me lol)
ReplyDeleteAt least our president had a focus: wall. Of course, it's a ridiculously wrong focus. I would argue we all need our focus, though. There is no doubt we will do better than "wall."
DeleteAlthough, I may not know for the time being, there are a lot of things that bring happiness in my life and I hope to find my cause as well. I love and enjoy music *ahem* KPOP! I love it! As well as my, family and surroundings. What is my cause? That is one thing I would want to find out in future or perhaps now.
ReplyDelete"Happiness" is difficult to come by. But once it happens, then what?
DeleteI think my cause is to spread kindness to everyone I meet and help this world be a better place, i'm just not exactly sure how yet.
ReplyDeleteI think attitude during the day helps to spread kindness. I think feeling good on the inside helps, too. Small moments, and all moments, matter in life. Right?
DeleteJaelyn Maglanoc ^^^ Period 6 :))))
ReplyDeleteThe one about KPOP ^^^
DeleteThanks for kind of commenting, Jaelyn. Keep being you, and keep pushing yourself to try different things. I've been impressed with your drive.
DeleteMy cause is to be successful.
ReplyDeleteWhat does that mean? Success is a wild word, and I can recommend a zillion books about it. Perhaps start with Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers.
Deletemy cause is unknown but i do know that i would like to do good in school and become a scholar
ReplyDeleteThat is a good notion. A scholar in what? It is time to find a passion!
DeleteMy cause Subscribe To Pewdiepie
ReplyDeleteLol! What?!? Come to the question when you're ready!
DeleteI think your blog is really interesting, and I dont think I have found my because yet
ReplyDeletePush yourself. I see that you want to move forward in some regard. Right?
DeleteMy actual cause is to beat T-Series
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your accidental honesty. I believe that most of the upcoming generation has given their mind and souls to things like T-Series. ... Is that what we really want?
DeleteIs that you Pewdiepie?
DeleteMy cause is to stream snipe ninja and get banned
ReplyDeletePredicted! This is a non-real comment. Reconsider. What do you really care about?
DeleteMy cause is making sure this Earth is better for my little ones. Income inequality is the first huge problem.
ReplyDeleteI love this comment! I cannot agree with you more. But we must unite to figure out how to take this idea and turn it into action. Right?
DeleteEducate and elevate all populations. And we can't learn if we're not fed, healthy, and safe. So do as much as possible to teach, and to teach the learners to keep teaching.
ReplyDeleteI concur, too. But what exactly can we do? I think we must figure out how to take action.
DeleteI feel my cause is to help others around me in need and put them first before me. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is tricky. I, too, used to have this thought when I was younger. It's a kind sentiment. However, as I got older, I realized that I must do everything in my power to improve myself first and model that.
DeleteI don't really have a cause. For the most part, I'm guided by one goal and a will to not die. Is there really anything more that I need?
ReplyDeleteThat's a good question. Only you truly know the answer. Right? For myself, as I've gotten older, I have realized that I want to "be part of the solution." I'm working on helping others, and the first step with that is honest self-examination.
ReplyDeleteI think...or at least I hope that my cause is to help others. Its a short answer but I hope that I can fulfill my purpose in that time I have left.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea. I believe when we actually become proactive on that, it's best to pick one cause and go with it. The homeless? disenfranchised youth? Seniors? There is much more and a lot of options.
ReplyDeleteCan we really have a purpose? At one point, life got so hard that I wondered, why am I on this planet. I've heard all the heroic stories about the person who thought they couldn't do amount to anything and ended up changing the world. I don't think I'm ever going to be that person... so what does that make me? That makes me an average person amongst an ocean full of average people. GOD. It's insane. Sometimes it feels like we're all living in some sort of simulation. A utopian society that isn't nearly as perfect as you think it is. Kids wake up, eat breakfast, change, go to school for five hours, and come home only to work some more. The same thing for adults. And then there are these sporting events where we watch humans ram into eachother and fight for a ball or a hockey puck or a birdie. I don't understand, what can one's purpose be when all the most important purposes such as advancing the society are already taken.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing. I am thinking that what stands out in the post is how we work so much and are on a hamster's wheel of sorts. I guess that means we must find meaning in our work — and depending on what we're doing, that can be difficult.
Delete