In 1961, during the fourth-shortest inaugural address ever delivered, John F. Kennedy made a request of his fellow Americans that still resonates with me today. JFK said, “My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
I believe the President’s motivational speech inspired Americans to think about how they could put the needs of fellow Americans and the United States above their own personal desires—at least for a while. Unfortunately, somewhere in the 20th century we collectively made a shift away from self-reliance and support of our neighbors to focusing on how the government could and should satisfy our own wants and needs.
I also feel we have collectively become more narcissistic than our parents and grandparents. The “me” generation has created a culture of people who are focused primarily on themselves instead of others. Even in their care for others, there is a need to promote how wonderful we are and how much we care about other people by hashtagging the latest concern, instead of donating time or money anonymously. As an observer of people, I feel this permeates our culture in fascinating (and disappointing) ways.
I am a medium for many reasons. One reason is that my own grief was healed and I felt peace after I was able to communicate with my dead loved ones through a medium. One of the ways that I answer the question of “What can I do?” is with our newsletter each month. I frequently offer subscriber-only benefits and every month I offer a free birthday reading to one lucky subscriber. If you’re not already a subscriber, you can sign up now and receive the next newsletter, which we email out around the 10th of every month.
I know if you’re reading this, you’re more in the camp of “What can I do?” instead of “What can you do for me?” How do YOU answer the question, “What can I do?”
