Quote of the Week: Removing Barriers

Most of you have never met or read anything from the person with this week’s quote–but she is one of the most insightful people I know and has an authentic, strong, persistent heart for serving others. She is my mom–the woman I call the original SocialButterfly. Allow me the second to thank my family and ancestors.

“Sometimes, we work so hard to change a person. When, what they really need from us, is to help them remove the barriers blocking them from changing themselves.”

I don’t know about you–but what a change in perspective! We often look at the point of behavior and often, we tell people over and over to run, not to smoke, eat healthy, get tested for STDs and everything else under the sun. Even–come out with us on a Friday night or meet me for breakfast in the morning. We want people to make choices, decisions.

But how often, do we look at people and find the boulders in their life? And how often are we helping to lift those boulders rather than tell them of the great valley that lives on the other side? Do we see their needs? Are we listening? For example, how can someone take a walk–if they don’t have sidewalks? Instead of wanting them and telling them to start walking, what if we helped them build a sidewalk? Or, instead of telling someone to eat healthier, teaching them how to grow and cook good foods. Or, making certain foods more affordable. Or, listening to their trials and tribulations, so they can feel cared for and loved and empowered to make healthy decisions.

Just a thought passed on from my mom. Did I mention she’s pretty great? 😉

flickr credit: Okinawa Soba

4 thoughts on “Quote of the Week: Removing Barriers”

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Robin Payes March 30, 2010 at 8:42 am

This is so true, particularly in global health. Earthquake and rainy season wipe out roads in Haiti; long distances between health clinics and infirmity keeps people from seeking lifesaving medical help; children in Africa are needed for planting season and have to drop out of school. Under the Taliban, Afghan women died in massive numbers in childbirth because their lives were deemed insignificant.

But even in the US there are huge obstacles: cultural, economic, education. Many barriers are based on stigma – think of mental health – or environmental – think of the obesity epidemic. How does one remove these boulders that get in the way?

And whose job is it – the individual and their family? government? physicians? hospitals? insurance companies?
It’s not a simple dilemma when the needs are so great.

Removing obstacles: important perspective to introduce as we go to implement healthcare reform in this country. Thanks for posting, Alex.

Alex Post authorMarch 30, 2010 at 10:58 am

Robin–Thanks for your shared passion and for ilustrating the many examples of how barriers get in the way of healthy living, not just abroad, but here in the USA too.

Some barriers are so interwoven into how we tick, that at first, it’s hard to recognize them and when you do: it can seem almost impossible to believe that we can remove them. This story in the NY Times today gave me hope on creative ways Americans are finding to remove barriers: http://nyti.ms/cbHo0l Let’s keep it coming.

Janine McBee March 31, 2010 at 6:20 am

So true. The world would be a much better place if we spent more time looking for ways to help people find/achieve their dreams and goals in life. What pebbles, stones, boulders will you help someone remove today? Make a difference.

Pamela Lynn March 31, 2010 at 6:33 am

Robin, thank you so much for sharing your mom’s wisdom in this article. This perspective is one that most people don’t remember to try on.

I am your newest subscriber!

Pamela

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