We live in a world where we can demonstrate our social conscience by clicking a button. We can share that we clicked a button with our friends on Facebook or Twitter, so that they know we have a social conscience and are clicking to do good in the world. Then they can click, too. Of course sometimes in this busy world, it’s too much trouble to share on Facebook or we don’t have time. Maybe it’s even too much trouble to click the button, or read the petition or the headline is too long, so we just delete the email or scroll past the article. If “doing good” is too easy, it loses its worth and meaning, and we miss an opportunity for genuine human connection. This is a growing problem for our Internet-saturated society.
Unfortunately, it’s also too easy when we’re angry about something to shout it from the internet rooftops. In fact, it’s much easier to focus our energy on bad experiences instead of good ones. Psychology professor Roy Baumeister wrote an article in 2001 titled “Bad Is Stronger Than Good” which gathered a lot of evidence on the psychological phenomena of a “negativity bias.” In short, we process negative information more thoroughly than positive, bad impressions far outweigh good ones and negative events or feedback have a stronger and longer-lasting effect on us than do good experiences. It turns out that to counteract one negative interaction, we need to have at least five positive interactions.
“If a thing is worth doing, it’s worth doing well” means doing something that takes more energy than clicking on a petition, and something more thoughtful than ranting about what bothered us today. This is where Social Justice Valentines come in. The Unitarian Universalist Association’s Standing On the Side of Love campaign rallies support for marginalized groups and look for ways to connect with local movements and agencies to advocate for those in need. The campaign has been re-envisioning Valentine’s Day as a day to rally for social justice and show that love goes beyond borders, genders, races and religions.
Our Juneau Unitarian Universalist Fellowship has decided on our own approach to re-imagining Valentine’s Day. Think of an organization or agency that does work that often goes unappreciated, or maybe even gets dumped on much of the time. Perhaps you can think of someone that goes unnoticed, and you want to let them know that their work is recognized. Now gather some pretty paper, lacy doilies and glitter pens, envelopes and stamps, and sit down to make genuinely appreciative valentine cards for those who need the love. Counteract the negativity or the thankless job with your positive appreciation and gratitude, make it really count!
Here are a few examples of who we sent Social Justice Valentines to last year: Juneau Parking Enforcement, Office of Children’s Services, the Air Traffic Control Tower, Capital Transit Bus Drivers, the staff of Wildflower Court and the Pioneers Home, the Bureau of Parole & Probation, Gastineau Humane Society and many more. Some people thanked teachers or doctors or people who had helped them. Your creativity and care can make a big difference to someone in your community, and it is far more meaningful and worthy than clicking a virtual button.
• Rachel Zahnd is a member of the Juneau Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
