Higher Care (the value of words)

A short while ago I worked for a company that said it cared about people. The company, like most others, was run by a person who said they cared about those working for him. It was his caring about people that I suppose translated to the company.

Of course, I was soon to find out that while I was working 12 hours days for the company it cared. It cared while I was carrying out its bidding, doing everything I could possibly think of to try to make things better until the last 2 weeks of my probation period - devoid of long term legal commitment - at which point opportunity was made taken to be very clear that, given its obligation was over, it would exercise the right not to care any more. Of course, still being a business it got those last two weeks from me while the future that I'd been beautifully sold - and allowed myself to be hooked, lined and sinkered by - no care be presented to restore.

It was then I was truly reminded how much easier it is to speak the words of care and make whatever vapourous promises are required than to actually face making sacrifices that would have been caring. Than actually see them through.

But my continued and extended thoughts on the matter are deeper and more troubling for me. Is that what care reduces itself to? As long as there is some upside, some benefit to caring and it need not be shown it is verbally lavished while the reality is bounded, finite and entirely different?

I believe the utterance of caring be a commitment to be manifest. I know some will retort with business is business, perhaps even say that I would do the same - and if that was ever shown true of me of myself I'd seek answers.

But I think I reject the notion. I reject that we are ever allowed to put our humanity aside, that we are allowed to pause, renege and weasel shy away from our own commitments. Give up on our own words.

If not for our words, representatives of our actions, then what do we have? What are our values; how do we not just present but uphold those throughout our own complicated meandering journeys?

Perhaps, though it pains me think, this is where we invoke pragmatism. We take our pinches of salt and for the sake of survival we question the honesty of what others have told thought I wish it weren't so.

And maybe those who really care show their colours overcoming the crowd.