It’s Not Your Job to Save the Whales || By Laura Zwisler, LPC
Times are tough. Pick your issue: politics, the environment, inequity, the economy. It’s hard to sleep through the night. Most of us wake at 3:00a.m. when we can’t be saved by a long To Do list, and ruminate about the state of the world. Does protesting do anything? Is backyard composting helping? Would donating money actually clean up rivers?
My daughter came home from college where she was taking a class on environmental science. The professor told them, “It’s not your job to save the whales.” I was intrigued. I’m pretty sure the whales need saving, especially the ones caught in fishing nets or dying from polluted waters. Don’t we hear all the time that we need to get involved? We hear it in the world, and we hear it in our hearts. But, no, the professor meant it’s not your job to save the whales- that job belongs to the marine biologists. Let the people who know how to help whales do the helping.
I’ve been chewing on this. They’re right, you know, I don’t know about whales. I’m not sure what my job is supposed to be. Perhaps we need to think more locally, perhaps we need to focus. What is it that is unique to you or me that would actually be helpful? Certainly using less water or volunteering is up to me. And to the extent I can afford it, I can assign myself the task of buying local vegetables or driving a hybrid car. Some efforts shouldn’t belong to the single mother raising kids on one income or my older parents who can’t afford to replace their working cars for newer ones.
Perhaps our way of contributing isn’t meant to be a bold act. Perhaps we are meant to contribute the things we’ve been providing all along. I’ve made a pact with myself this year: Don’t be lazy about the environment- go the extra step when possible. This means that I’m often carting recyclables home with me at the end of the day. I have empty toilet paper rolls, plastic cups, reusable items all floating around in my bag at any given moment. I go outside to dump the water left in my water bottle on the lawn. It’s certainly not everything I can do, but it is within my power, and it makes me feel 1% better at 3:00a.m.
Someone recently told me he was having a hard day at work. Even though it’s April he turned on holiday music. He said it gave him a little boost. I wonder if it’s because at the holidays we all try a little harder. It takes a village to make all those parties and decorations happen. Someone buys gifts, another someone wraps them. Clearly we’re all capable of a little more, and it definitely adds up to something appreciable. At the holidays we’re all trying, and you can tell. There is joy, and all of us made it happen together.
Your efforts matter. Whether you are protesting, hosting a group of friends for support, carrying trash around in your bag, or saving whales, it matters. Inspired about what’s possible, I started volunteering at a local running club. Is that going to clean any rivers or change any political policies? No. But I guess I believe in a ripple effect. Maybe the person blowing off some steam at the running club is a marine biologist. Either way, I’d rather imagine us all doing a little something than sitting at home despairing. Join me, will you? Let’s not save the whales together.
About the Author: Laura Zwisler is a Licensed Professional Counselor and the owner of Lafayette Couples Counseling. She specializes in relational therapy and men’s work. Her practice reflects a deep belief that through corrective relational experiences we can heal traumas, get needs met, and fulfill our greatest potential. In addition to counseling, Laura supervises interns at People House, leads workshops and trainings, and writes about the human experience. If you are interested in working with Laura, please visit: https://www.lafayettecouplescounseling.com/ or email her at: laura@lafayttecouplescounseling.com.
