Once again, it's awareness week.

Or day. Or month. Sorry. I lose track.

I'm not sure what or of whom I'm supposed to be aware of right now - or recognizing, appreciating, celebrating; pick a euphemism. Perhaps it's an ethnic minority (or two), a disease that someone feels isn't getting enough attention, some group of workers that isn't normally lauded. It's a stunning continual blur of images and thoughts - trying to remember who we're obligated to pay lip service to right now...

...so we can ignore them the rest of the year.

Mother's Day is the ultimate example. There's nothing wrong with celebrating Mom; there's no harm, per se, in recognizing her contribution through cards and gifts. It's just the rest of the year - when we don't call more often, whine about dinner not being ready, forget to call, throw our clothes around with the expectation that she'll pick them up, and, lest we forget, not calling more often.

We are not our titles. We are not classifications. The idea of "Mom" is just a part, a single facet of the complex and often contradictory gem that makes each person.

So enough with the greeting card holidays, enough of the obligatory shallow "awareness". Instead of being aware of an issue, instead of appreciating a title, take some time each day to be truly aware of someone else. Look past the labels of jobs, ethnicity, political or religious affiliation, or haircut. Find out thier concerns and dreams, their hopes and fears. Imagine yourself in thier place, find the common areas, try to understand - not agree, but just understand - the differences.

Then the next day, remember them when you do it all over again with someone different.

That, my friends, would be an awareness day worthy of the name - and you wouldn't even have to buy a greeting card.