Choosing To Put Good into the World

Lead photo credit: 2018, Katrina Hubbard

Several months ago, I heard about a cybersecurity incident (one of the hazards of being married to a cybersecurity professional!) and was deeply impacted. I was not personally affected (at least, my data wasn’t), but the attack hurt me emotionally despite having no connection to the company that was attacked. Why was I so impacted? The cyberattack was against a children’s hospital.

Now, I don’t personally know these children, but I am certain I’m not alone in the rage that this news brought. Someone decided to use their resources to steal online data and make a profit…profiting off of children and families who are certain to be in their most desperate of circumstances. My stomach churned when I thought of it. It was so infuriatingly unfair! At the time I was with a group of people who were discussing it, so I excused myself for a few minutes to calm down. As I sat alone in the hallway, a thought struck me. I realized I had no way of preventing this incident or repairing the damage. But I could choose to put some “good” into the world.

I’ve written before on my work with The Magic Yarn Project, but please allow me to introduce it again. In 2018 I came across this charity – a group of volunteers who join together to create soft, whimsical princess wigs and superhero beanies for children battling cancer and other medical hair loss. These wigs, though seemingly a small offering, bring joy and playfulness into the lives of children who have been dealing with trials beyond their years for too long. The wigs do not cure any ailments or prevent any sickness. But they bring something good into the lives of struggling families.

That evening, after hearing about the cyberattack, I went to my office and quietly created a dinosaur beanie for a child. I’ll likely never see the recipient or know anything about them. But by handing it off to The Magic Yarn Project, I know I’m putting something good into the world.

Photo credit: 2024, Katrina Hubbard

Only a few weeks ago, I saw how others were inspired by this project as well. CBS Sunday morning aired a news segment about The Magic Yarn Project, and the response was beautiful. Hundreds of people reached out hoping to help the cause of the organization in various ways! People all across the United States (and beyond!) heard about the charity and felt inspired to help bring some goodness into the world by contributing. It was reassuring to me to see such an opposite event to the cyberattack that I initially mentioned – people came together to help children who needed it, as opposed to the selfish individual(s) who profited off of their private data.

This month’s newsletter has articles all about following our internal compass. We are made up of our own values, priorities, and beliefs. Our moral compass uses these to guide our actions every day in both minor and significant ways. Through this experience and others, I have identified that a major value on my moral compass is “doing good.” When people in the world around me make selfish choices, newsworthy or not, I am empowered by the knowledge that their choices do not, and cannot affect mine if I follow my internal virtues.

When the unfairness of the world is apparent, how do you battle this? How does your internal compass guide you to act? Notice your feelings and reactions, and take strength in the fact that the choices of others cannot affect your own decisions if you are guided by the values you hold dear.

For more information about The Magic Yarn Project or information about getting involved, please visit https://themagicyarnproject.com/. To view the story by CBS Sunday Morning, please visit https://youtu.be/hddtBETZUvQ?si=st4Q5DxJi3o8dUS-.