There are several phrases and comments that particularly annoy me. One of them, which we seem to hear a lot lately is "Why Bother?" So much trouble for so little-if any- reward.

Last week I asked a young friend if she could help with a project. Her answer - "Why bother? I can't see that going anywhere anytime soon."

I shared my disappointment with a man who is a realist. My thinking was about bothering to make a difference. By sharing our time. Sharing our gifts. His was about how our lives have changed. Time and convenience, he said, are now our personal treasures. 'Bother' is being systematically eliminated from everyday life.

AI is removing the 'bother' of doing research. Meal Kits do away with the bother of learning to cook. Spell check is automatic. Why bother learning to spell? Why bother building a birdhouse when you can get one on Amazon?

His list was long and bothersome.

Time and convenience are important. I appreciate both. Still, l believe being 'bothered' is a good thing.It's thinking for ourselves. Learning something. Caring.

It means - If we are invited to help solve a problem or offered an oppotuniity ... being bothered enough to TRY.

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