“Don't bury your head like an ostrich in the sand and hope somebody else takes care of it” and other lessons from a former nurse

Interviewer: What specific things would you like to see change in society, whether in this community or on a global scale?

Judith: Well, on a global scale, I would like to see the disappearance of guns. I would like to see the disappearance of drugs on the street and trafficking.

 I mean, all those global things are the stuff of nightmares. I don't see the will, politically, in many. Globally, politically speaking, there's too much money to be had. There's too much money, too many payoffs.

In Central and South America, drug running means that too many people are paid to allow it. The financial corruption is deadly, absolutely deadly.

Ecuador was clean in terms of drugs until the cartels grew and moved in. Now Quito, which was a beautiful city, the cartels pretty much took over. And we haven't seen much of an effort to stop it. Ecuador does not have an army and many police are corrupt.

Interviewer: What advice do you give to the younger generation on being proactive?

Judith: The thing to do with the good things in your life is to pay it forward.

For instance, I have a son who is wealthy. He's a financial person. He participated in starting a foundation in Boston. All of these things that support and educate youth, keeping them off the streets. If people do as well as he does and pay attention, they will do wonderful things with their money.

Everybody can pay something forward.

No matter what you do and in what way. 

I did a lot of volunteering at Planned Parenthood. For years, I was a Planned Parenthood nurse. Adoption, abortion, birth control, counseling, and clinic work. I mean, whatever you choose to do, whatever route you take, you can pay forward the good stuff. 

That's what everybody needs to do, instead of getting holed up in your own life. You know the whole, “I've got the house, got the kids, I got the dog, and I have a future and I have my insurance.”

Pay something forward. 

Mr. Rogers was the speaker at Middlebury College for my grand niece's graduation. All the graduates “grew up” in Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. There were 2000 people in the audience. It was outdoors, and it was beautiful. And you could hear a pin drop. Couldn't wait to hear what this guy had to say. And it was all about paying forward with what you've got.

“All the people who got together, however, you got here: you're educated, you're graduating, and it's time to start giving back no matter how big or small”. 

That's the only thing I can hope that young people will do. Pay attention to politics. Fight for what's correct.

Don't bury your head like an ostrich in the sand and hope somebody else takes care of it.