Do me a favor. Open the browser on your phone or computer and Google “June Appreciation Month.”
The first thing that pops up on my computer is a listing from the NationalDayCalendar.com website. I quickly learned that June is the perfect time to hand someone a bunch of balloons -- while a DJ plays African-American Music you can appreciate -- while visiting your favorite Zoo or Aquarium.
Yep. June is “National Give a Bunch of Balloons Month.” It also is “National DJ Month.” And “African-American Music Appreciation Month,” and “National Zoo and Aquarium Month.”
The list goes on. It is also LGBTQIA Pride Month, Men’s Health Month, National Accordion Awareness Month, National Adopt a Cat Month, National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month, National Candy Month, National Camping Month, National Caribbean American Month, National Country Cooking Month, National Dairy Month, National Great Outdoors Month.
I learned the sixth month of the Julian calendar is also now reserved for National Headache and Migraine Awareness Month, National Homeownership Month, National Iced Tea Month, National Papaya Month, National Pollinators Month, National PTSD Awareness Month, National Safety Month, National Soul Food Month, Rose Month, Turkey Lovers Month.
My birthday is in June. Father’s Day is in June. My wife Jenny and I will celebrate our 32nd wedding anniversary tomorrow. Flag Day is in June. How is it possible that in a month of personal celebrations I have looked right past the fact that so many people have been observing National Accordion Awareness Month?
Am I so self-absorbed I couldn’t take time out of my busy schedule to at least acknowledge those who are rejoicing that June is the one month out of the year when we should pause to remember this special time as National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month?
I guess I am.
But the reality is all these “Awareness” campaigns have made it so that we don’t really have to be aware of anything. For years as a television anchor and reporter when I went out to cover stories, I asked people “Why are you doing this?” At least once a week for a couple decades, the person would look at me and simply say, “We want to raise awareness about our cause.”
That’s nice. It is important. But is awareness really the end goal?
It shoudn’t be. The end goal is to take action – beyond simply scrolling past a post on social media reminding you that June is National Country Cooking Month. Using that example, if we all took action, there would me millions of us working on perfecting recipes for Chicken Fried Steak and sweet tea. I already told you June is National Iced Tea Month, and in my opinion sweet tea is THE perfect complement to many varieties of country culinary cuisine – especially fried chicken.
The real issue is that our country faces real issues. More than six million people are afflicted with Alzheimer’s Disease. The fact that June is National Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness month isn’t going to do anything to help families like ours dealing with the dreadful disease. It isn’t going to erase our pain and suffering watching our loved ones are slow slipping away while losing the ability to recall a lifetime of cherished memories. “Awareness” won’t stop their decline.
National Football League players proudly put on pink every October. College kids follow their lead. So do high school kids. And JV kids. And middle school kids. And midget football players across the country. They all have pink gloves. Pink shoes. Pink sweatbands. Pink ribbons on shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, jackets. We know it is for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. But “awareness” won’t heal a women facing a double mastectomy, months of chemo and reconstructive surgery.
How many people actually do something to stop breast cancer? How many people reach into their wallet, pull out their credit card, get on the Susan G. Komen website and donate to cancer research? Or call the American Cancer Society to help fund their research? Not many. How many go to the cancer ward to visit a patient who is dealing with radiation sickness while losing her hair? Few.
When are we going to realize that being aware of something is all well and good, but it’s not enough? We mean well. We justify in our own minds that we were DOING something about it. But let’s be honest. “awareness” isn’t the same as doing something to change it.
There’s an old Toby Keith song. It’s not exactly about fixing the problems of the world – certainly not the real problems -- but the big man belts out these words.
“A little less talk
If you please
A lot more loving
Is what I need
Let's get on down
To the main attraction
With a little less talk
And a lot more action”
Amen. Sing it Toby. Can we get one more verse, same as the first?
When are we going to get on down to the main attraction – WITH A LITTLE LESS TALK AND A LOT MORE ACTION?
Awareness is fine. It’s an important step -- critical even -- if you want to change something. You must first know it’s a problem. Alcoholics Anonymous has long told people they first must admit they have a drinking problem before they can solve the problem.
Here’s my challenge to you.
Don’t just scroll past the post on social media that is talking about something you deem to be important. Do something about it. Give some money. Give your time. Volunteer. Help.
Don’t just go to church on Sunday and drop a $20 bill in the offering plate. Teach Sunday School. Volunteer for Vacation Bible School. Visit a shut-in. Go Christmas Caroling at a nursing home this December. Work in the church office. Plant flowers outside the sanctuary. Re-design the church website.
Don’t just go play in a golf tournament because your company paid for a foursome. Give the organization a donation for something other than three mulligans while you play a nice course. Don’t go home feeling like you “did your part.” Do more than your part. Do the heavy lifting. Serve on the Board of Directors for the organization that held the tournament. Help them raise twice as much money next year.
Don’t just plant a political sign in your front yard for the upcoming November election. Go door-to-door. Campaign for your favorite candidate. Tell others why they should vote for her. Go to a school board meeting. Get involved in your local government. Call your Congressman. Write to your Senator. I love it when you call my show on KDKA Radio and tell me what you think, but I get really excited when I hear that I am not the first and only call you are going to make.
Imagine how different the world could be – or even our little section of this big world– if a bunch of us moved from “awareness” to actually doing something about it.
I know one thing. I completely agree with Toby Keith. Right now, we all need a little less talk and a lot more action.