Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.

In this episode, I explore the question: Just because we have the right to do something, does that automatically make it the right thing to do?

Whether you agree or disagree, this episode is sure to get you thinking. Share your thoughts—I want to hear both sides of the conversation.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who appreciates honest conversations about everyday issues. New episodes drop every Wednesday.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:05

Welcome to I'm Okay Being a Karen. My name is Sterling, and here we talk about daily life, real situations, and the exact moments that test my patient. So grab your coffee and join the conversation. Welcome back. The title of this week's episode is Just Because You Can Doesn't Mean You Should. So let's get into it. Every year as the Fourth of July approaches, I know exactly what's coming. It starts a few days before the holiday and then continues through the fourth. Sometimes it stretches into the weekend after. You hear boom, boom, boom, random explosions throughout the day and well into the night. And every year I find myself asking the same question. Just because you can, does that mean you should? Now before anyone misunderstands where I'm coming from, let me be clear about a couple things. This isn't an anti-American episode. It isn't about an anti-fireworks episode. In fact, I actually enjoy a great fireworks show. Sitting in a park, watching a professional display with family and friends, that's been a wonderful tradition through my life. What I'm questioning isn't fireworks. It's where we choose to use them. And today I want to talk about something that seems to be disappearing from our culture. It's called common courtesy. You see, freedom comes with responsibility. And one of the things I appreciate most about living in this country is freedom. It's something worth celebrating, but somewhere along the way we've started confusing freedom with permission. Permission to do whatever we want simply because we can. And real freedom has always carried responsibility. Living in a neighborhood means recognizing that you aren't the only person who calls it home. Our choices don't exist in a vacuum. In fact, they affect everyone around us. Now I know exactly what some of you are thinking. It's one night a year. It's tradition. And I grew up doing this. Honestly, I understand that perspective. Because some of my favorite childhood memories involve watching fireworks with family. You see, traditions matter. They're part of what connects generations. But traditions aren't frozen in time. They evolve as we learn more and are as our communities change. We've accepted seatbelts. We've accepted smoke-free restaurants. We've accepted some things that we thought were harmless actually affected the people around us. Being considerate doesn't erase tradition. In fact, it refines it. Maybe celebrating our independence should also include respecting the people we share our community with. Here's something worth thinking about. You probably don't know every story behind every front door on your street. You don't know who served in combat, who works as a police officer, a firefighter, a paramedic, who escaped a war zone or survived violence, or quiet someone who quietly lives with PTSD. For many of these people, fireworks aren't entertainment. They're not beautiful, in fact, they're terrifying. Those explosions can trigger anxiety, panic attacks, sleepless nights, or painful memories. We often say we support veterans. We thank first responders. We say we care about people who have sacrificed. But support isn't always found in our words. Sometimes support looks like choosing not to create unnecessary explosion out someone's bedroom window. And if you've ever had a dog that's terrified of fireworks, you know exactly what I'm talking about. They often shake, they hide, they pace, and some even refuse to eat. Others break through fences trying to escape, and that leads to every year animal shelters reporting an increase in lost pets around the Fourth of July. On the other hand, many owners have to medicate their pets just to get through the evening. I want you to think about that. Someone else's decision means your pet needs medication just to feel safe inside their own home. That doesn't seem very neighborly to me. In fact, here's what bothers me the most. Home should be where you can find peace. Because maybe you work overnight, maybe you have a newborn, or maybe you're recovering from surgery. You might be caring for an elderly parent, or maybe you're grieving, or maybe you simply don't celebrate the Fourth of July. Should any of those people lose the quiet environment of their own home because somebody nearby wanted their own private fireworks show? Well, I don't think so. And we already have the perfect solution. The interesting thing is, where we solve this problem is that communities all over America host incredible fireworks displays. They're in cities, parks, festivals, baseball stadiums, and they're professionally organized events. So if you love fireworks, that's wonderful. So do I. Go enjoy them. Take your family, create memories and traditions, because everyone attending made the choice to be there. The people who stayed home also made a choice. And neighborhood fireworks removes that choice from everyone else. Whenever this conversation comes up, someone usually says, People are just too sensitive, or it's only one night. Except if we're honest, it usually isn't. It's days before, it's the holiday itself, and sometimes several days afterwards. And this isn't about taking away anyone's fun. It's asking a simple question. Does our enjoyment justify someone else's discomfort? That question is worth asking far beyond fireworks. You see, I think there's a bigger problem. The more I think about it, the more I realize this isn't really about fireworks. It's about how we think. We've become a culture that asks, What am I allowed to do? Instead of asking, what is the considerate thing to do? You see, there's a difference. The law tells us the minimum acceptable behavior. And then character determines everything beyond that. The best neighbors don't need laws telling them how to behave. They naturally think about the people around them. So imagine what our communities would feel like if more of us simply paused long enough to ask, how will my actions affect everyone else? So in closing, here's my challenge to you. Before doing something that affects your entire neighborhood, ask yourself one question. Who else will this impact? Because sometimes that one question changes everything. Because having the right to do something doesn't automatically make it the right thing to do. You see, there's courtesy, respect, and common sense. Those aren't outdated ideas. They're what good communities are built on. So after this Fourth of July and every day after, including next year, let's remember that celebrating our freedom and respecting our neighbors can exist at the same time. After all, just because you can doesn't mean you should. Thank you for spending part of your day with me. If this episode made you stop and think, I'd love to hear your perspective. Share this episode with someone who enjoys meaningful conversations. And if you haven't already, be sure to follow my podcast because there's new episodes that drop every Wednesday. Until next time, take care of yourself, take care of each other, and remember, just because you can doesn't mean you should. Remember, having standards doesn't make you a can. Accepting basically thinking isn't asking too much. If you've ever walked away from a situational thinking, am I the problem, or are people just getting worse? When you're in the right place, teacher following us, leave the women, stop comments, and share it with someone.