Column: Good can still be found

By Rachel Allred

Published Dec. 10, 2010

Nearly nothing, nor no one, is unbreakable. Likewise, nothing and no one is unfixable.

I often desperately try to fix anything I can. This becomes a problem when I fail to realize there are some things that don't really need fixing. Maybe you can relate; you want to make things better but you fail to recognize how good things already are.

Thanks to a little housefly that had a tragic end, I began to see how fixing something that doesn't need fixing could cause harm. This pesky fly was trapped in my house, and I decided to fix things. I managed to scoop it into my hands and put it outside where it was safe. That wasn't good enough for me. I scooped it up again so I could move it to some plants. Doing so, I thought, would further "fix" the little guy's life. Sadly, in my fixing process I accidentally squished the fly.

There's a lot wrong in the world and improvements can always be made, but there's also a lot that's right with the world. It's about time the positives get some positive reinforcement.

I applaud dedicated students and faculty. Waking up early for class, staying up late to study and giving up weekends in order to succeed in school doesn't fit most definitions of fun. Students who have perfect attendance and remain diligent in their studying impress me.

Although professors and teaching assistants are credited for assigning ridiculous amounts of work and having high expectations, their interest in student learning is under recognized. I'm grateful for staff members who have shown genuine interest and concern for my education and personal wellbeing.

Guys who continue to be gentlemanly deserve thanks as well. There's a popular assumption that college guys are a bunch of tools. I started to believe this, but I've seen that notion proven wrong on many occasions. One frigid night I was helping two other girls haul several large, cumbersome boxes across campus. Five heavy boxes distributed between three girls typically doesn't work out too well. We had to stop every few feet to reposition the boxes or take a breather. I began to get frustrated after several macho guys saw us struggling but only laughed as they proceeded to walk down the street. When we were about to give up on getting the boxes to their destination and on the valor of men, a guy from across the street rushed over to help us. His kindness, along with the kindness of many other gents, has assured me good guys have not gone extinct.

I give kudos to compassionate people who make hard circumstances a little better. I've seen health care providers offer patients whole-hearted kindness and attention, friends who would walk across the desert for each other and parents who show undying love for their rebellious children.

They say this is the most wonderful time of year. I believe that's partly because people seem to get along a little better despite differences in religions, beliefs and backgrounds. It's great to see people giving graciously to charity, people gathering together to help the less fortunate and homes and businesses displaying festive decorations of all sorts. Students on campus display their seasonal pride with tinsel scarves and silly Christmas tree hats: Props to their confidence and excitement for the season.

Often the things that need the least fixing are the things seldom noticed, the simple things. Playing in the rain, a happy child, a lit up tree, people who are so in love with life they can't stop smiling... they remind us some things don't need fixing. Some things are just right the way they are.