It should come as no surprise that there are more shooting incidents at churches, schools and other locations, lately. It seems that there is no mental health treatment available any more in America.

I can tell you from the experience of my sweet mother, who has been made miserable by dementia, that they can’t help themselves.

We as a people and a nation have got to take care of them, even if only for our own sakes. You never at what church or school a “crazy” person is going to show up. And I’m not ready to go. I want to see my grandchild, Izzy, grow to be a woman first.

It seems we humans have designed a culture driven by the dollar, that rewards physical beauty above all. What happened to the barter system? I like the idea of trading services or goods.

And I believe that the cut off of interpersonal communication, prompted by our cell phones and the like, is going to make it even worse. Already too many humans are drawn to the frightening and the gruesome. Too many sit at home every night watching murder mysteries that are they’re filmed to make it look real.

So if you have no darkness or trouble in your life, would you invite it in?

We’re not raising Izzy that way. I urge you to do the same with your children and grandchildren, and even your friend’s kids. It’s up to us all to make the change. Take the young ones out into nature whenever you are able. Encourage them to be fully present and conscious. Encourage them to interact.

Give them the blessing of your presence, and be fully conscious yourself. Notice the smells wafting through the air. Notice the breeze on your cheek. Notice the nuances of color in the day. Notice the sound of the creek bubbling by. And tell the kids to notice them, too.

If we are going to change our culture, we’ve got to get back to nature, and no one can opt out. It will take everybody who is human, and it will ultimately help all non-humans too.

Do you want to help change the world for the better? Do you want to leave your children and grandchildren a green, natural world where they’ll be comfortable, confident and at peace? Where they will know that anything is possible?

If you do, please join us.

Marcelle Hanemann is a news reporter for The Daily News. You can email her at marcelle.hanemann@bogalusadailynews.com or call her at 985-732-2565, ext. 301.