Not everything can be solved by having a strike every single day

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Sunday, April 27, 2003 By: Thais J. Gangoo

VHeadline.com lifestyle correspondent Thais J. Gangoo writes: When a new day comes, we all expect to have a good one ... although sometimes we get in shock when we see that the outside world is a big mess.

My first thought, when I left home last Tuesday, and I saw a long line of people on the street waiting for the bus, was: "Is a strike going to make any difference today?"

Not only that, is it true what people say the next day? "Oh! nothing happened after all."

I will never forget what my boss told me the day before ... nothing that we do to harm ourselves can do any good. It's not true that after a strike nothing happens ... what it is true is the fact that nothing good happens after it.

This week has been a roller coaster for many people I know. I've seen so many weird things going on around me ... and they all involve people getting upset and doing something they regret a few hours later.

As my grandma says: "Think first, then do what you have to do."

It seems to me these days that people "explode" when they feel they are being attacked in a certain way ... acting in a very defensive way has become a very important issue we all deal with in our lives. The cause is probably the famous "stress." ... it's well known that not only Venezuelans, but a lot of people around the world suffer from it.

Being defined as continuous feelings of worry caused by difficulties in people's lives that prevent them from relaxing, stress is one of the most dangerous enemies we have in the world.

• Over 90% of disease is caused or complicated by stress.
• Long-term stress is strongly associated with depression, heart disease, gastrointestinal disorders and weakened immune systems.
• The percentage of adults being treated for depression: 54%

No wonder stress can destroy our lives.

From a general strike to small ones ... are we having a better and enjoyable life now?

Is it better, the way we feel, and the way we live, after 2 months of doing nothing but fighting each other?  I don't think so!

I must admit, I understand many people are upset about the whole situation, not only in Venezuela but also around the world.

Not only about Venezuela but it's something I'm concerned about for people all over the world.

A way of protesting is what we call a "strike" ... it is necessary sometimes because people want to be listened to ... however, not everything can be solved by having a strike every single day.

One day it's doctors, the next bus drivers, two days later there you see teachers on the street also protesting ... and so on.

We can't build a country that way.

Do we have any moral to tell others that fighting is bad?

Do we have the right to teach our kids what is right by sometimes doing the wrong things?

Again, I'm not saying it's always wrong to have a strike ... but let's think about it!

It's not always necessary. Aren't there some other ways for people to be taken seriously by our leaders? And when I say leaders, I'm not only talking about politics but also about leaders we have in common such as parents, bosses, teachers, etc.  They're our leaders and so we are for others too...

I'm tired of seeing my country destroying itself ... deep inside it has made me feel like a tornado in the middle of a town ... there are so many things going on, and, suddenly, it comes and it makes you feel like crap and totally destroyed.

Feeling our hands tied has become a nightmare for many of us.

Sometimes we feel there's nothing we can do to stop this crisis ... no matter how hard we work or how positive our attitude is ... the ghost of frustration is always around.

Although we're in the middle of a crisis, we always try to do our best in order to make this country a better place to live in ... a place where the rules are followed ... and the respect for each other is a right and not something we must fight for.