submitted by Dr. Susan Burger, Riverside Chiropractic & Vitality Center

Recently a woman in my office said, “Dr. B., I don’t know what I’m going to do about the election next year. Democrat, Republican…I don’t trust any of them anymore!” Later that same day a man said, “You know, this is the first time in my life that I am not voting in the local elections – it just doesn’t seem to matter.”

It is sad when the hopelessness of apathy sets in. We don’t know who to vote for that can “fix” things. Do we just give up?

It is time that we take responsibility and not look to anyone else to solve our problems, including those in government. Systems are crashing around us, built on a house of cards, a lack of integrity. There is a need for connection, a sense of requited humanity that has been lost.

We can start in our own families, schools, and communities. Things could get worse before they get better, and a positive result of that can be that we rise to the occasion and find ways to help each other more, work together to meet the challenges that come our way.

In the show “Survivor,” I was annoyed when the participants talked about friendships and teammates…but when it really came down to it, would turn on anyone to win in the end. Is this really winning?

In reality, it is the team that works together, looks out for each other and creates a synergy and system of support that wins. Rather than win-lose being the norm, we can recreate the win-wins.

It is time for US to STAND UP! In our own lives and do what is right, from the heart. We are all in this together.