Leaving Maslow's Basement

Many know the story of the scorpion who asks a frog to carry it across a stream. The frog declines because it knows the scorpion will sting it. But the frog relents when the scorpion convinces him that he won't because both would drown. Midway across, the scorpion stings the frog, who asks "why did you do that?". The scorpion replies "it's my nature."

Must we allow ourselves to be ensnared by our nature? Undeniably, we hold fast to our needs of physical well-being, security, and belonging so foundational to Maslow's Hierarchy. But we must leave Maslow's basement simply to do greater good for both ourselves and the community.

We hold voluntary basketball workouts a few hours a week for girls at the Common court. Invariably, we find the flotsam and jetsam of youth on the court...broken bottles, soft drink lids, and so forth. Texas had a huge and expensive litter problem. They crushed it using sports celebrities in a public service campaign "Don't Mess with Texas." The spokespeople made it clear that littering wasn't cool, that star athletes don't trash public thoroughfares. Littering fell dramatically. Citizens left Maslow's basement by representing quality and aesthetics and the state saved tens of millions of dollars in cleanup costs. 

We believe that doing small things leads to big things. Do you want your sister or your friends playing on broken glass? These girls sacrifice their time to compete and practice on ninety (or fifty) degree days. They learn to make great decisions. Can you make a gesture of support by putting your can or bottle in the recycling bin at the court? Don't mess with somebody's little sister.